CrossRoadsNews, January 23, 2016 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

SPECIAL SECTION

Honoring in steps, service

Live healthy and prosper

Area residents found myriad ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while celebrating the annual holiday on Jan. 18. A4

Blood pressure and diabetes screenings, entertainment and lots of information will be available at the 2016 Health & Wellness Expo. SECTION B

Put Litter in Its Place Let’s Do Our Part to Keep DeKalb Beautiful

EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER

January 23, 2016

Volume 21, Number 39

www.crossroadsnews.com

Candidates lining up, considering run for DeKalb CEO By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The race for DeKalb’s next CEO is heating up with two confirmed candidates – Connie Stokes and Calvin Sims – and a third person, former DeKalb School Superintendent Michael Thurmond, who is being urged by supporters to run. Stokes, a former DeKalb commissioner and state senator, confirmed her run for the office with a Jan. 15 announcement. Sims, who ran for CEO in 2004 and Commission District 4 in 2008, marched in the DeKalb NAACP’s Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Decatur with “Calvin E. Sims for DeKalb County CEO” signs. Qualifying for the 2016 DeKalb CEO

and create more honesty in government. “DeKalb County is on a collision course of crime and corruption, and this must change,” she said. Stokes also said she is running to decrease unemployment by creating job opportunities and training and she will be traveling throughout the Connie Stokes Calvin Sims Michael Thurmond county listening to citizens’ vision and 57 other races for local, state, congres- for the county and sharing hers. She says she will campaign under the slosional and judicial offices takes place between gan, “The Change We Need and the Results March 7 and March 11. We Want.” Targeting corruption, development Stokes, who runs her own real estate Stokes, who lives in Lithonia, said she company, has a bachelor’s degree in business is running to rid the county of corruption from Georgia State University and a master’s

degree in public administration. She chaired the Board of Commissioners’ Budget and Finance Committee when she was the Super District 7 commissioner.

Sims ran for CEO in 2004 Sims said he filed his declaration to run in July. “I want to work hard to re-establish integrity and confidence in our government and I want to move forward with unprecedented growth and economic development,” he said on Jan. 21. Sims has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s in economic Please see CANDIDATES, page 3

Officer who killed naked man faces murder charge Grand jury indicts Olsen on six counts By Ken Watts

DeKalb police Officer Robert Olsen will be tried for felony murder in the death of naked and unarmed Air Force veteran Anthony Hill in Tucker 10 months ago. A DeKalb grand jury indicted Olsen on six counts on Jan. 21 – two counts each for felony murder and violation of Robert Olsen oath by public officer and one count each for aggravated assault and making a false statement. Olsen shot and killed Hill, 27, outside the Heights at Chamblee Apartments on March 9, 2015, after answering a call about a naked man behaving erratically and Anthony Hill running around the apartment complex on Chamblee Tucker Road. The felony murder charges stem from two separate felonies allegedly committed by Olsen: aggravated assault and violating his oath as a certified Georgia peace officer. Specifically, Olsen is charged with violating his oath to “observe all the rules, orders and regulations” of the Police Department, including the agency’s Use of Force policy. The indictment charges Olsen with falsely telling a fellow officer that the victim physically assaulted him prior to the shooting. District Attorney Robert James said Olsen will be the first law enforcement officer in Georgia in at least five years to be prosecuted for fatally shooting a civilian while on duty. He said Hill’s death warranted murder charges.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Demonstrators camp out at the DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur to dramatize their call for a grand jury to indict DeKalb Officer Robert Olsen, who shot to death 27-year-old Air Force veteran Anthony Hill on March 9, 2015. Hill was naked outside the Heights at Chamblee Apartments.

“My job is to uphold the laws of Georgia and prosecute anyone who violates them,” he said. “This case is no exception.” His office said a DeKalb Superior Court judge signed a warrant for Olsen’s arrest. On Jan. 18, three days before the grand jury hearing, Hill’s family, friends and supporters camped out in frigid weather before the DeKalb Courthouse to press their call for the indictment. The group of 14 demonstrators that included Hill’s girlfriend, Bridget Anderson, and members of the community action

group Rise Up Georgia pitched seven tents on McDonough Street where grand jurors would see them on their way into the secret hearing. “We want them to see the tents and the signs and to know that we’re out here supporting somebody who did not need to be killed,” Anderson said. Family members said that Hill, who served in Afghanistan, returned from the war in 2010 with post-traumatic stress and bipolar disorders. On the day he was killed, they said he had stopped taking his medica-

tion after a bad reaction to it. Olsen, a DeKalb police officer for seven years, said he feared for his safety and fired at Hill when he lunged at him aggressively. Witnesses said that Hill jogged toward Olsen but never made contact with him. In October 2015, a civil grand jury that heard a wrongful death claim by Hill’s family recommended further investigation “because of inconsistencies.” Hill’s family and supporters kept calling for charges to be brought until James said he would seek the indictment.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

January 23, 2016

“Again, I reiterate that the citizens of DeKalb County expect public officials to act with honesty and integrity.”

GBI won’t pursue allegations raised in Bowers/Hyde report After reviewing Mike Bowers and Richard Hyde’s report on corruption in DeKalb County government, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said this week that it will not pursue further allegations against interim CEO Lee May or other officials. In a Jan. 11 letter to Gov. Nathan Deal, GBI Director Vernon Keenan Vernon Keenan said that a number of allegations raised by Bowers and Hyde did not amount to crimes. “A number of allegations in the report related to violations of DeKalb County ethics

rules, which could not be prosecuted criminally,” Keenan wrote. “Accordingly, it is our view that report contained no new criminal allegations that warranted further investigation by the GBI.” Deal had asked the GBI to look into the Bowers/Hyde report that highlighted more than $500,000 in questionable spending by county officials. May hired Bowers on March 18, 2015, to “root out corruption” in county government. The report cost the county more than $1 million. After his investigation, Bowers, a former Georgia attorney general, said the county was

“rotten to the core.” “The misconduct starts at the top and has infected every department we have looked at,” Bowers wrote. May, who was mentioned in the Bowers/ Hyde report along with several county commissioners and other elected officials, said on Jan. 21 that it is encouraging to have a sense of closure in this area. “Meanwhile, we will continue to cooperate with all other investigative agencies as they complete their work,” May said, adding that the vast majority of DeKalb employees are honest, hard-working and dedicated. “But if there is criminal wrongdoing by any DeKalb County employee, that employee should be held accountable for his or her ac-

tions,” he said. Keenan told Deal that many issues raised in the Bowers/Hyde report have already been reviewed by other law enforcement agencies like the FBI and DeKalb County Police. The GBI director said that one allegation was still under active investigation by county police. Keenan said other alleged offenses did not amount to crimes. Bowers said on Wednesday that he accepts Keenan’s decision. “While I might disagree, I respect his judgment,” he told the Atlanta JournalConstitution. “That’s his call. I might have called it otherwise, but that’s his call.”

MARTA meeting to offer updates Two headed to prison for bribery MARTA riders and residents can hear updates and provide input at a MARTA Community Meeting on Jan. 25 at the Lou Walker Senior Center. The meeting, which will cover fare policy updates, April service modifications, Breeze Card updates, and the holiday group pass, begins at 1 p.m. The discussion will center around the following: n In accordance with the Federal Transit Administration, MARTA adopted a revised fare policy that governs potential fare changes. The current policy, previously adopted in 2013, is being updated and customer input is required. n Input also is needed for service modifications scheduled to go into effect in April: Route 9-Toney Valley/Peachcrest Road, Route 24-East Lake/Hosea Williams Drive, Route 34-Gresham Road/Clifton Springs,

Route 73-Fulton Industrial, Route 86Fairington Road/McAfee Road, Route 99-Boulevard/Monroe Drive, Route 140North Point/Mansell Park & Ride, Route 143-Windward Park & Ride, Route 172Sylvan Road/Virginia Avenue, and Route 185-Alpharetta/Holcomb Bridge Road. n MARTA is introducing a secured Breeze Card ($2) and Breeze Tickets ($1), effective Jan. 9. Customers with existing Breeze Cards can continue using them for at least 18 months. n The transit system is introducing a discounted, one-day group pass allowing up to five people to ride for only $7 per person, a savings of $2 for each purchase. The senior center is at 2538 Panola Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit www. itsmarta.com.

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Professional trainer, Donna Satchell of STARR Consulting & Training, will teach you the importance of providing outstanding service and help you enhance your service skills in this motivating free class.

Tuesday, February 9th Discover DeKalb Conference Room 1957 Lakeside Parkway Suite 510 Tucker, GA 30084

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Call 770-492-5014 Register online at AtlantasDeKalb.com

Former DeKalb Zoning Board of Appeals member Jeremy “Jerry” Clark and Ismail Sirdah have been sentenced to federal prison on corruption charges. Clark accepted a bribe from Sirdah in exchange for voting for a variance Jeremy Clark for Sirdah’s late-night billiards hall. On Feb. 19, 2015, Clark, 43, of Lithonia pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe from Sirdah. He was sentenced to nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,500 fine. On April 2, Sirdah, 53, of Duluth pleaded guilty to bribing Clark. He received six months in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. U.S. Attorney John Horn called the case “another unfortunate incident of corruption” in the county. “Again, I reiterate that the citizens of DeKalb County expect public officials to act with honesty and integrity,” Horn said on Jan. 20. “Public officials who may be tempted by money and graft remember – we remain committed to investigating and prosecuting acts of corruption regardless of who commits them or where they are.” In November 2008, the Board of Commissioners passed a zoning ordinance that regulated the operation of late-night establishments and nightclubs. It required that new businesses obtain a Special Land Use Permit if they wanted to operate either as a late-night establishment or as a nightclub. It provided an exception for pre-existing

late-night establishments and nightclubs that allowed those businesses to be exempt from the 2008 change. Sirdah was owner and CEO of 2841 Investments Inc., which did business as LuLu Billiards, a pool hall Ismail Sirdah and bar in Tucker. In November 2011, the Department of Planning and Sustainability informed LuLu Billiards in writing that it was grandfathered in only as a late-night business – and thus could neither operate as a nightclub nor have a dance floor. Despite the notice, it operated as a nightclub and possessed a dance floor. In September 2012, Planning and Sustainability issued a warning to Sirdah, again advising that LuLu Billiards could not operate as a nightclub or have a dance floor without a SLUP. Sirdah responded that it had operated as a nightclub prior to the 2008 ordinance and as a result should be grandfathered in as a nightclub under the new zoning rule. Sirdah appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. It hears and decides appeals when a property owner alleges a county official committed an error. From January 2009 to May 2013, Clark served as a board member. Prior to the hearing, Sirdah met with Clark and made it clear that if the board approved his petition to operate as a nightclub, Clark would be rewarded. In November 2012, the board approved Sirdah’s request. Clark voted in favor of LuLu Billiards. In return, Sirdah paid Clark about $2,000 in cash and donated about $1,500 to a nonprofit interest with which Clark was involved.

January 23, 2016

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming support I received from some of the most prominent and well-respected attorneys in the state of Georgia.”

Perdue blocks Lopez’s nomination for a federal judgeship By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb State Court Judge Dax Lopez’s nomination for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in Atlanta has been blocked by U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), who refused this week to back his appointment to the bench. Late Wednesday, Perdue, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, declined to provide a Dax Lopez “blue slip” for Lopez. For the nomination to move forward, Lopez needed the approval of Georgia’s two senators – Perdue and Johnny Isakson – before going before the full Judiciary Committee. Isakson said last week that Lopez deserved a hearing, but Perdue’s seat on the Judiciary Committee gave him veto power over Isakson. Lopez, who was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Georgia. He is one of two Latino trial

court judges in Georgia, but for nearly three years after he took the oath for the bench on Sept. 23, 2010, he was the only one. Lopez was to fill the last vacancy on Georgia’s Northern District bench and would have been the first Hispanic lawyer in Georgia to get a lifetime-appointed federal judgeship. In a statement Wednesday, Perdue said that after a review of Lopez’s professional and judicial record, he became David Perdue “uncomfortable” with his participation with the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. Lopez is a former board member of the group that supports amnesty for Latinos who are in the United States illegally. “I am particularly concerned with his continued participation with this organization and his public comments after he became a state judge,” said Perdue, who won his first term in 2014 opposing any amnesty for immigrants who came to the United States

illegally. “Unfortunately, our personal meeting, while cordial and informative, did not fully alleviate my concerns.” Immigration is a hot-button issue for the GOP. Leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who continues to draw huge crowds on the campaign trail, has promised mass deportations of illegal immigrants and said he will build a wall along the U.S./Mexican border and make Mexico pay for it. Last week, Perdue’s name was floated as a likely Trump vice presidential candidate. Anti-immigration and other conservatives increased attacks against Lopez’s past membership on the board of GALEO, which fought tougher state laws on immigration. Lopez, 39, was appointed to the DeKalb bench by Perdue’s cousin, former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. He was one of seven judges nominated in July by President Barack Obama to serve on the U.S. District Court. U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a member of the House Judiciary and Armed Services committees, said he is disappointed with how Lopez’s nomination went down. “It’s a travesty that one of our senators is

playing politics when Georgia desperately needs to fill that seat on the federal bench,” said Johnson, who represents the 4th District that includes DeKalb County. “Dax is a good man, and he’s qualified. He deserves at least a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. For a Republican senator to outright block another Republican because he believes in sensible immigration reform shows just how unreasonable conservatives have become in this state.” Lopez said on Jan. 21 that while he is disappointed, he takes pride in the fact that none of his detractors was able to find issue with any portion of his judicial record. “I am also deeply grateful for the overwhelming support I received throughout this process from some of the most prominent and well-respected attorneys in the state of Georgia, including several past presidents of the State Bar of Georgia,” he said. “As a judge, I love and respect the law and my fidelity to the same will remain steadfast.” In 2012, he won a hotly contested race for a full term. He is up for re-election this year and announced his bid in November.

Qualifying for CEO, other political races takes place March 7-11 CANDIDATES,

from page

development and completed additional studies in economic development at Harvard.

Thurmond considering a run Thurmond, who led DeKalb Schools during one its most turbulent periods, said Tuesday that scores of people have called to ask him to run. “I have not made a decision to run yet,” he

said. “I am engaging in the conversation.” Thurmond, a lawyer, author and college professor, was DeKalb Schools superintendent from February 2013 to June 2015. He is a former Georgia labor commissioner, state representative, director of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, and candidate for the U.S. Senate. In two-and-a-half years, he steadied the School District, got it off probation, rescued it from financial ruin, cut legal fees, elimi-

nated furlough days for teachers, and established a $10.25-an-hour minimum wage for the district. He also set aside $10 million to re-establish a pretax employee contribution retirement program; awarded cost-of-living increases; and set aside $500,000 for a boardapproved district curriculum – something the district has not had in 15 years. He said people have been calling to ask and to encourage him to run for CEO. Thurmond, who lives in Stone Mountain, said it is

NEW CARD!

going to take a coalition to get the county out of the situation “we are in right now.” With the deadline to qualify for the May 24 primary election just six weeks away, he said he understands time is of the essence. “I am comfortable with the timeline,” he said, adding that he is just listening and learning. “I am just talking to as many people as are interested. We will see how it goes.” Interim CEO Lee May has not announced his candidacy but is expected to run.

Effective

January 9, 2016 MARTA converts to a more secure Breeze Card and the Breeze Ticket returns.

Breeze Card Changes for Regular Fare Customers The cost of new silver Breeze Card will be $2 and will be valid for 3 years. SILVER CARDS will be available for FREE with card registration at the RideStores January 2016!*

(Mon. the 11th – Fri. the 29th, weekdays only)

*BLUE CARDS will no longer be usable after July 9th, 2017 *Breeze Tickets Return! The cost of the Breeze Ticket will be $1

Questions? Visit www.itsmarta.com or 404-848-5000. Information regarding company, school, or university issued cards will be provided at a later date by your company or school.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Graphic Design Curtis Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

January 23, 2016

“We are all beneficiaries of his sacrifices, so it is only fitting that we pause to honor him on this special day.”

Residents brave chilly weather to honor King By Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Ken Watts

More than 1,000 paraders and spectators braved 30-degree weather to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the DeKalb NAACP’s 14th annual King Parade and Rally. Paraders marched from Green Pastures Christian Church in Decatur to MLK Jr. High, the only DeKalb County school named for the late civil rights leader. Civic, community, faith-based, school, service and fraternal groups; high school marching bands; elected officials; and an array of candidates seeking elective office marched in the parade. County leaders included DeKalb Superintendent Stephen Green; School Board members Dr. Melvin Johnson, Dr. Michael Erwin, and Dr. Joyce Morley; DeKalb Associate Judges Ronald Ramsey, Keisha Storey and Brian Ross; State Court Judge Dax Lopez; Superior Court Judge J.P. Boulee; DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry; DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann; Solicitor General Sherry Boston; and District Attorney Robert James. All seven DeKalb commissioners and interim CEO Lee May were noticeably absent. Individuals and families with small children lined the route along Flat Shoals Parkway and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway/Highway 155 to cheer the marchers. At the intersection of the two streets, DeKalb NAACP President John Evans released bunches of multicolored “balloons of inclusion” in honor of King. He said the NAACP commemorates King’s life by reflecting on his fight for justice and equal rights and because he was a man of nonviolence, a man of love, and a man of inclusion. Evans spoke of King’s support of garbage workers that took him to Memphis, Tenn., where he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at age 39 while on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. “We are all beneficiaries of his sacrifices, so it is only fitting that we pause to honor him on this special day,” Evans said. Jan. 18 was the 31st annual observance of the national King holiday. His 87th birthday was Jan. 15. All 50 states have observed King Day since 2000. Evans also urged marchers and spectators to make “a solemn pledge to honor Dr. King by registering to vote and to vote in every eligible election.” In contrast to previous parades, a growing number of marchers carried banners, placards, and printed and hand-drawn signs with King’s photo and famous quotes.

Service projects in DeKalb Despite the chilly weather, hundreds of volunteers cleaned up parks in the city of Lithonia and at Panola Mountain State Park, picked up trash around the county, and

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

repaired and painted the homes of seniors. At the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia, more than 60 Kaiser Permanente employees from Lithonia to Marietta spent part of their King holiday cleaning and painting the center’s restrooms, gym, locker rooms, and aquatic area. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists also volunteered at a mini-health fair where seniors from the center and the community got health screenings and a review of their prescriptions. David Garrett, who lives in Stone Mountain, brought sons Jonathan, 20, and Michael, 14, to help him paint a hallway. “They didn’t have anything better to do,” Garrett said with a laugh. “Plus it’s a good opportunity to come out and work in the neighborhood.” Garrett said he has been bringing his kids to volunteer for years. Michael, a ninth-grader at Miller Grove High, said he was glad to help. “I help out the seniors and get to hang out with my brother and dad,” he said. “I also learn to treat everybody right.” Jonathan, a Morehouse College freshman, said it’s good to give back even if he was doing it on his birthday. Sharon Getties Johnson, Kaiser Permanente’s community service program manager, said that all across the county, Kaiser employees volunteered for the King holiday. “A day of service aligns with our mission. It’s a day on, not a day off. We are just happy to be here.” At First Afrikan Presbyterian in Lithonia, about 20 members spent four hours clearing overgrown

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

bushes and brambles from the grounds of the church on Salem Road. They also spray-painted patio furniture and spruced up the Vanessa G. Knight Multipurpose building. Others tilled the soil in the Community Garden that provides fresh produce for members and residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. Carlton Williams, a church elder, said organizers wanted to make sure children worked side by side with adults on the project. “We’re leading by example,” Williams said. “We’re trying to show our kids this is not just a day to sit down and play video games and say, ‘I have a dream.’ This is what the dream is about. We want our youth to take responsibility for the earth that we’re leaving them.” Some kids bagged lawn trimmings, while others painted flagstones that will form a walkway on the church grounds. In Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood, more than 1,000 volunteers worked 12 hours over three days from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18 to repair and renovate the homes of senior citizens. The 14th Annual King Day Service Project was sponsored by Decatur in partnership with the Decatur Preservation Alliance. Students from area high schools worked in the yard and painted inside the home of 86-year-old Rita Teal on South McDonough Street. Teal, who has lived in her home since 1969, stayed with her daughter, Shirley Marshall, over the three days while work was being done. Skilled technicians repaired her plumbing and electrical systems. Karl Schultz, a Georgia-Pacific executive who helped general contractor Jerry Artopoeus do major

Celebrating King Day (clockwise from top left): young marcher at DeKalb NAACP parade, volunteers repairing a senior’s home, Kaiser Permanente employees at Lou Walker Center, and activists at Rock of Ages packaging rice for refugees.

exterior work on Teal’s house, said they accomplished a lot. “We got the wheelchair ramp repaired,” he said. “It had some bannisters missing, but we replaced them and were able to tighten it up and pressure wash the ramp. It was real slick from the weather.” Artopoeus patched the roof and repaired the eaves, fascia boards, soffits and gutters. Marshall was amazed at how the volunteers were able to transform the property in just three days. She said they are grateful for the help. “Because of Mom’s health and my health, there were a whole lot of things we weren’t able to do ourselves,” she said. David Hale of Columbia Presbyterian, who has volunteered for service projects since 2003, said King’s message inspired him. “The memory of Dr. King brings us all together to get outside of ourselves so we can be part of something as meaningful as this and somehow expand Dr. King’s dream,” Hale said. Volunteers at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain were on a mission to help newcomers to the DeKalb refugee community. Volunteers collected and brought bags of rice that were repackaged into family-sized bags at the church for distribution to newly arrived families from around the world being resettled by Lutheran Services of Georgia. Workers stacked a mountain of plastic bags filled with rice in the gymnasium. Lutheran Services also sponsored a “Teaching Summit on Immigration and Tolerance” to open up community dialogue and build understanding about Islam.

index to advertisers

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January 23, 2016

Finance

CrossRoadsNews

“Being able to speak with someone, we got good advice and we found out about a lot of opportunities.”

Seven get prison terms in massive property-flipping scheme Chiedu “George” Chukwuka of Stone Mountain, five co-defendants, and a coconspirator are going to prison for their involvement in a $5.8 million massive property-flipping scheme between 2006 and 2011. Chukwuka, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. in December to serve nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $5,868,243 for his lead role in a mortgage fraud ring that spanned five years. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Aug. 10, 2015, after he pleaded guilty. U.S. Attorney John Horn said the property-flipping scheme caused scores of homes to fall into foreclosure at the height of the recent mortgage-fraud crisis, costing financial institutions millions of dollars in losses.

“Many communities in our district have been decimated by mortgage fraud during the last 15 years and even now struggle to recover from the effects of these schemes,” Horn said. Chukwuka and his group recruited straw buyers to purchase homes at a discounted price, typically a bank-owned or distressed property. The group then recruited a second straw buyer to purchase the same home at a dramatically inflated price. In turn, the group applied for an acquisition loan for the second straw buyer, supporting the loan application with false income, fake employment, and fraudulent net worth data. The group profited by pocketing loan proceeds paid by a victim bank to a straw seller (the straw purchaser in the first transaction). The amount of profit was the difference between the price paid by the

straw purchaser in the first transaction and the price paid by the straw purchaser in the second transaction, less transaction costs. Since none of the straw purchasers made any significant loan payments, the targeted properties usually went into foreclosure, resulting in more than $5.8 million in actual losses to financial institutions. The following five defendants also pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme and were previously sentenced by Batten: n Shelly Gee, aka Shelly Baker, 48, of Atlanta received one year, six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $2,243,909. n Sandra Petgrave, 43, of Stone Mountain was sentenced to one year, six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of

$1,051,970. n Kennedy Simmonds, 54, of Snellville got three years, 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $5,868,243. n Marcelle Welch, 37, of Stone Mountain received two years, three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $2,554,189. n Leah Freeman, 43, of Atlanta was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $1,828.532. In a related case, Chinedum Oli, 42, of Snellville was sentenced in February 2013 by Senior U.S. District Judge Marvin H. Shoob to five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $4,373,281.

230 job hunters show up for 25 employers at expo By Ken Watts

Admiration Lodge No. 25’s second annual Job Fair drew 232 job hunters to the Community Achievement Center in Decatur on Jan. 20, surpassing the 150 who showed up at the first fair in 2015. The number of participating employers also was up, this time climbing to 25 from 13. Admiration Lodge President Miguel Ramos was thrilled with the overall turnout. “We had a good, diverse range of people out here,” Ramos said. “We just want to bring some jobs here and this really helps.” Employers included governmental agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MARTA, U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, and DeKalb and Clayton county police departments and private sector companies Wells Fargo Bank, True Staffing Temporary Agency, Viewpoint Health and Global Solutions, and IFS Securities. DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson and the Rotary Club of South DeKalb supported the event. Watson thanked the business partners who participated in the fair. “Every stride we make in connecting our constituents with viable employment is one

Job seekers flocked to Admiration Lodge No. 25’s second annual Job Fair on Jan. 20 at the Community Achievement Center. Twentyfive employers participated.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

step closer to stabilizing individuals, families, and our community,” he said. Job seekers with resumes in hand had brief informal conversations with recruiters and got information about each employer’s application process. U.S. Navy veteran Randall Brown, who is hoping for a career in health care administration, said she and her husband, Markis Brown, had been making slow progress hunting for jobs online. “I did learn a lot here from GSA and CDC

about applying for jobs at USAJobs.gov,” Randall Brown said. “Being able to speak with someone, we got good advice and we found out about a lot of opportunities.” Recruiter Ricky Miller of GSA said his agency is taking a special interest in veterans. “Everybody has to apply online for jobs, but if they’re a veteran, we can take their resumes back with us and if there are jobs available, we will contact those veterans and let them know that they will be considered for those positions,” Miller said. Melanie James of True Staffing in Duluth was impressed with the applicants’ enthusiasm. “Even before I finished setting up my table, I had a line of people waiting for me.”

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January 23, 2016

Members of the Somali community in Brandon Hills will present poetry about social action, visual arts, and spoken-word pieces.

Professors to discuss state of black America New state park Princeton University professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. will be in conversation with Morehouse College professor Marc Lamont Hill on the state of black America on Jan. 25 at the Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta. Eddie Glaude The program, sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book, takes place at 7 p.m. in the Cecil B. Day Chapel and is free and open to the public. Hill, a Huffington Post contributor, is Distinguished Professor of African American

Studies at Morehouse. Glaude, William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African American Studies and chair of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton, is author of “Democracy in Black: How Race Still Marc Hill Enslaves the American Soul,” part manifesto, part history, and part memoir as the nation moves toward the end of its first black presidency. It argues that Americans live in a country founded on a “value gap” – with white lives

valued more than others – that still distorts U.S. politics today. Glaude also is author of “Exodus! Religion, Race, and Nation in Early 19th Century Black America” and “In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America” and editor of “Is It Nation Time? Contemporary Essays on Black Power and Black Nationalism.” He received Princeton University’s President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2009. The library is at 441 Freedom Parkway in Atlanta. Visit www.jimmycarterlibrary. gov or call 404-865-7100.

Singer-songwriter to perform at Decatur Library Composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto will perform on Jan. 26 at the Decatur Library as part of the Doris K. Wells Heritage Festival. The program begins at 7 p.m. Tsukamoto, who hails from Kyoto, Japan, performs selections from the Nueva Cancion social movement that includes Latin American and Iberian folk music, folk-inspired music, and socially committed music. His albums include “Confluencia,” “Where the River Shines” and “Heartland.” Funding is provided by the Friends of the Decatur Library. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. Call 404-370-3070. The festival, named in honor of DeKalb Public Library’s first African-American

Hiroya Tsukamoto of Kyoto, Japan, performs on Jan. 26 at the Decatur Library as part of the Doris K. Wells Heritage Festival.

librarian, is an annual celebration of the county’s cultural diversity. It was created and first celebrated in 1983 by Doris K. Wells as the Kwanzaa Awareness Festival at Scott Candler Library. Wells died in 2015.

More festival events:

n Jan. 23 – Celebration of Somali Culture

in DeKalb County, 3 p.m. at Clarkston Library. Members of the Somali community residing in Brandon Hills will present poetry about social action, visual arts, and spoken-word pieces to celebrate and share their culture. The library is at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston. Call 404-508-7175. n Jan. 30 – Atlanta Chinese Dance Company, 10:30 a.m. at Clarkston Library. The company presents costumed traditional dances from many of China’s diverse ethnic groups in celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year. The Year of the Monkey begins Feb. 8.

Black History word, trivia challenges test knowledge The countdown to Black History Month is on, and African-American history buffs can test their knowledge with word and trivia challenges at Salem-Panola and Gresham library branches. Patrons 5 and over can participate in the word challenge at Salem-Panola beginning at 4 p.m. on Feb. 1. They pick up the challenge

of the week on Monday – challenges will be in the form of word searches, crossword puzzles, and cryptograms. It is open to the first 40 participants. The library is at 5137 Salem Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770987-6900. All ages can take part in Gresham’s trivia

challenge on Feb. 3 from 3 to 4 p.m. that tests patrons’ knowledge of Black History. It is open to the first 10 participants and no registration is required. The library is at 2418 Gresham Road N.E. in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.dekalblibrary.org or call 404244-4374.

guide available

It’s never too early to start planning for warmer weather and weekend escapes in the Peach State, especially with a copy of the newly published 2016 Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites. The free booklet is a handy resource for planning a spring break, summer vacation or family reunion and is filled with tips on the best hiking trails, fishing spots, wedding venues and accommodations. It also includes new accommodations, such as yurts at Sweetwater Creek State Park near Atlanta and cabins at Laura S. Walker State Park near Waycross. Produced annually by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the travel guide features colorful photos that make for a scenic “armchair tour” of the state. For a free copy, call 1-800-864-7275 or stop by any Georgia state park or state historic site. An online version can be found on GeorgiaStateParks.org (http://www.gastateparksdigital.com/publication/?i=287202). Outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs can keep up with the latest news and discounts by signing up for the park system’s e-newsletter at GeorgiaStateParks.org/e-news (http:// gastateparks.org/e-News).

Tips on recycling trash into jewelry

Skillshare instructor Paulette Richards will present “Treasures From Trash” on Jan. 26 at Lithonia-Davidson Library. The class begins at 6:30 p.m. and is limited to 15 participants. To register, call 770782-3820. Learn to recycle materials often discarded as waste to create stylish jewelry. Skillshare brings together people willing to share their special knowledge and skills related to their hobbies or crafts with others through library-hosted workshops. The library is at 6821 Church St. in Lithonia. Visit www.dekalblibrary.org.

State of Georgia

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