Ralston calls for GBI investigation into Fulton County elections

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Richard Barron election investigation

ATLANTA, Ga – Elected officials are taking aim and Fulton County and its elections director Richard Barron, following new details regarding the 2020 election.

Today, Speaker of the House David Ralston (R – Blue Ridge) released the letter he sent to Fulton Elections Director Richard Barron. In the letter, Ralston requests Barron ask the GBI to investigate November 2020 election. He cited the mounting allegations against Fulton County as his reasoning behind the need for an investigation.

ralston

Georgia Speaker of the House of Representatives David Ralston

“Recently, media reports have surfaced which call into question the way in which Fulton County conducted, counted and audited the November 2020 Presidential Election. These reports have been accompanied by video and other evidence which is part of on-going litigation and requires thorough examination and explanation. Given the seriousness of this situation and the possible repercussions for our state and nation, it is time we have an independent investigation – once and for all – of the way in which Fulton County conducted, counted and audited the November 2020 Presidential Election,” Ralston wrote.

 

Raffensperger calls for Barron’s firing

Throughout the week, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R-Ga) has issued several tweets, and last month, he held a press conference in front of headlines concerning Fulton’s lengthy history of election problems.

primary Raffensperger georgia lawsuits

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger

Most recently, a report of the double-counting of 200 absentee ballots came to light after the new voting law made it public.

“Fulton County’s continued failures have gone on long enough with no accountability. Rick Barron and Ralph Jones, Fulton’s registration chief, must be fired and removed from Fulton’s elections leadership immediately. Fulton’s voters and the people of Georgia deserve better,” one of Raffensperger’s tweets read.

Earlier this year, the Fulton County Elections Board voted to fire Barron, but the commissioners rejected the termination.

Another tweet stated, “Long before November, I had been working to get Fulton to clean up their decades of election mismanagement.  Restoring confidence in our elections should be a bipartisan concern. Fulton County’s poor elections management is making that impossible.”

Raffensperger’s also gone on record urging Republicans to take “the lead on election regulation reform” and that the SOS assigned monitor found “significant management issues.”

Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts (D – Fulton) described Raffensperger’s call to fire Barron and Jones as a “sell out to conspiracy theorists.”

“His ultimate goal is based on the provisions of Senate Bill 202, he would like to take over the elections in Fulton County, that is not going to happen, period,” Pitts told Fox 5 Atlanta.

Under the Election Integrity Act (SB 202), the Secretary of State’s Office does have the authority to take over a county’s elections process if numerous instances of problems are documented. The Department of Justice is currently suing Georgia over the bill on the grounds that it violates voter’s civil rights.

Read the entirety of Ralston’s call for an election investigation below:

Rabun County Man arrested for the sexual exploitation of children

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Sexual exploitation Second Amendment Sanctuary

Rabun Gap, GA (June 18, 2020) – On Wednesday, June 17, 2020, Rabun County resident Aaron Andrews, 37, was charged with three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Possession of Child Pornography) by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (CEACC). GBI was assisted with the arrest of Andrews and with the search of his residence by the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and the Clayton Police Department.

The search warrant and arrest warrant were related to an investigation being conducted by the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. The investigation began as a result of files containing suspected child pornography that Andrews was sharing online.

Andrews is currently in custody at the Rabun County Jail.

This investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, to identify those involved in the child pornography trade. The ICAC Program, created by the U. S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child pornography, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870.

GBI Seeks Public’s Assistance in 2011 Toccoa Murder Investigation

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Toccoa, GA (March 5, 2020) – This month marks the nine year anniversary of the murder of
Robert Lee Simmons, Jr. The GBI is seeking the public’s assistance with any information about
Simmons’ last days and his murder. Simmons, 46, was found dead at his home at the Glendale
Apartments on Norman Drive on March 1, 2011 by a family member. The Toccoa Police
Department responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call. Simmons’ death was determined to
be a homicide.

This case has remained active for the past nine years and both the GBI and Toccoa Police
Department continue to work to solve this case. Recently, investigators have received new
promising leads in this investigation and are asking for help from those who knew Simmons.
Even the smallest detail may help police with this investigation.
Both law enforcement and Robert Simmons’ family and friends implore anyone with information
to contact the GBI or Toccoa Police Department. GBI Special Agent Shilo Crane is the case
agent and may be reached at 706-348-4866. Tips can also be made on the GBI Tipline at 800-
597-8477 or online submissions may be made on the GBI website: www.gbi.georgia.gov. The
Toccoa Police Department may be contacted at 706-282-3244.

Sheriff and GBI Arrest 13 on Drug and Racketeering Charges

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drug

RABUN COUNTY, GA – The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI – Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) have successfully conducted a lengthy, joint investigation which included violations of Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Burglary 1st Degree, Forgery 1st Degree, and Drug Trafficking. During the course of the investigation, investigators were able to identify multiple subjects involved in a crime organization where a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine, prescription narcotics, firearms, and stolen property were seized.

Upon completion of the criminal investigation, the following arrests were made.

Jody McCracken (31) of Clayton, Ga. – Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Burglary 1st Degree, Possession of Schedule II with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Schedule IV with Intent to Distribute.

Michael Frady (21) of Rabun Gap, Ga. – Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Trafficking Methamphetamine, Burglary 1st Degree, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony and multiple traffic-related offenses.

Ashlyn Wilburn (22) of Clayton, Ga. -Trafficking of Methamphetamine, Burglary 1st Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.

Photos courtesy of Rabun County Sheriff’s Office

Tony Kellar (58) of Clayton, Ga. – Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon.

David Frady (44) of Clayton, Ga. – Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Forgery 1st Degree, Theft by Receiving, Party to a Crime, and Conspiracy to Commit Felony.

Rita Frady (44) of Clayton, Ga. – Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Theft by Receiving, and Conspiracy to Commit Felony.

Austin Groom (30) of Clayton, Ga. – Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Theft by Receiving (felony), Possession of Schedule II with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Schedule IV with Intent to Distribute, and Possession/Use of Drug Related Objects.

Peyton Alexes Hunnicutt (22) of Clayton, Ga. – Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Theft by Receiving (felony), Possession of Schedule II with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Schedule IV with Intent to Distribute, and Possession/Use of Drug Related Objects.

Steven Watts (28) of Clayton, Ga. – Burglary 1st Degree.

Terry Young (40) of Clayton, Ga. – Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Burglary 1st Degree, Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a Felony, and Conspiracy to Commit Felony.

Syndey Hamby (23) of Clayton, Ga. – Burglary 1st Degree.

drugs

 

Elias “LES’ Lambert (35) of Alto, Ga. – Prohibited Activities under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO), Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a Felony, Possession/ Use of Drug Related Objects.

Michael Smiley (51) of Clayton, Ga. – Theft by Receiving Stolen Property

To report illegal narcotics, please contact the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office drug investigator at 706-960-9857 or the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office at 706-348-7410. You can remain anonymous while providing information.

Clayton man arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child

News, Police & Government
sexual exploitation

CLAYTON, GA –  On Oct. 3, Georgia Bureau Investigation (GBI) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Jake Guffie, 33, on two counts under the Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007.

Guffie allegedly tried to meet a 14-year old girl at the Walmart off of Hwy 441. He began conversing with the girl online. The charges brought against Guffie include 20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine.

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force brought Gufffie in through an undercover, online investigation. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the GBI isn’t releasing any additional information at this time.

sexual exploitation

Guffie faces two charges of alleged sexual exploitation of a minor under the Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act.

More than 200 law enforcement officers, criminal justice agencies, and prosecutor offices work together in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing an effective response to cyber enticement and child pornography cases.

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