Sunday Edition October 14, 2018 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER $1.50 Bartow business owner pleads guilty to racketeering BY JAMES SWIFT funds from the HOA’s accounts into his
[email protected] own accounts and those of his business.” Cherokee Judicial Circuit Assistant Dis- A Cartersville-based accountant pleaded trict Attorney Adam Wilkinson said Heath guilty to violating the federal Racketeer In- wrote, signed and deposited checks from fluenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) the HOA accounts into his own accounts Act in Bartow Superior Court Tuesday. from July 2015 to August 2016. Gregory James Heath, principal of H&H “Those checks total over $100,000,” he Tax & Accounting LLC at 17 Felton Place said. Suite C in Cartersville, entered a negotiated Cherokee Judicial Circuit Judge David plea of guilty to 64 counts of theft by taking K. Smith sentenced Heath, 45, to 30 years while serving as an accountant and money with five years to serve in confinement and manager for the Lakes of Stonegate Home- the remainder to be served on probation. owners’ Association in Kennesaw. “I don’t want you being in charge of peo- “As a fiduciary of the HOA, [the] defen- ple’s money,” Smith said. “With computers RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS INSIDE dant was charged with proper management these days, it’s possible to do all kinds of H&H Tax & Accounting LLC principal Gregory James of the HOA’s funds,” a bill of indictment things, and you demonstrate that.” Heath, 45, was sentenced to 30 years in Bartow County Today, The Daily Tribune News releases the fall edition states.