A Newton County woman, Christal Deshai Guthrie, has been convicted on charges of racketeering after exploiting COVID relief funds. As detailed by The Covington News, Guthrie entered a non-negotiable guilty plea to RICO violations on Feb. 15, receiving a 20-year sentence, with the mandate that the first 8 be served behind bars.
Previously employed by the Salvation Army to oversee applications for federal aid, Guthrie diverted money earmarked for rental, mortgage, and utility assistance to herself and her cohorts. While many local applicants struggled with sickness and job loss at the hand of the pandemic, fraudulent checks were cut in the scheme and sent to invented landlords, reported FOX 5 Atlanta. Guthrie also used these ill-gotten gains to shell out $4,500 towards her own car loan.
The investigation conducted by the Covington Police Department together with the District Attorney's Office unveiled that Guthrie colluded with friends who submitted fake tenant and landlord details. "The Defendant [Guthrie] would receive the applications, pretend to verify applications that were known to be fraudulent. And then she would approve the applications for Payment," as stated in a press release obtained by The Covington News. This resulted in checks being mailed to supposed landlords, some of whom would kick back a portion of the funds to Guthrie.
Adding to Guthrie's scheme, she reportedly helped friends and family not residing in Newton County by creating false local addresses, as per The Covington News. This ploy extended out of state, with multiple fraudulent landlords belonging to Michigan, frequent destination where Guthrie visited her boyfriend. Amid their desperation, legitimate applicants had relied on critical financial assistance, only to be turned away and their details repurposed for deceit.
In the wake of her admission of guilt, Guthrie faces a significant penalty including a substantial restitution payment of $152,700.76. The legal team, comprising Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jillian Hall, Investigator Josh Shumate, and Investigative Assistant Bret Anderson, continue their inquiry to pursue involved parties in the fraudulent operation. "These Newton County residents who had applied for assistance had fallen behind on their bills because they were sick, laid off because of Covid, or were having to care for sick family members," stressed a press release by the Newton County DA's office, quoted by FOX 5 Atlanta. The full scope of injustice who experienced by residents duped out of their rightful assistance continues to unfold as the investigation presses forward.
