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Four sentenced in south Georgia $7 million fraud scheme

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Posted 9:23PM on Thursday 4th April 2002 ( 21 years ago )
MACON - Four Georgia men were sentenced to 17.5 years in prison Thursday for their part in a conspiracy to defraud 114 investors out of $7.3 million. <br> <br> Wayne R. Lindsey, 58, and his son, Benjamin F. Lindsey, 32, of Lenox; John L. Perry, 34, of Tifton and Keith V. Harned, 33, of Macon were convicted Jan. 31 of charges including wire fraud, mail fraud and securities violations. <br> <br> Senior U.S. District Judge Wilbur D. Owens also ordered them to make restitution of more than $2 million to the victims, who averaged 67 years old. <br> <br> The four were accused in an indictment almost two years ago of selling ``promissory notes,&#39;&#39; that they claimed would return 10 to 21 percent. Although they told investors the money would be used to build churches, medical clinics, roads and water treatment plants in developing countries, it actually went to the owners and agents of a company called GFI Financial Inc. in Tifton, the indictment said. <br> <br> The former president of GFI, Virgil W. Womack, his wife, Charlotte W. Womack and George H. Williamson of Hollywood, Fla., have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. <br> <br> David A. Cawthon, 47, of Perry also was convicted in January but will be sentenced by Judge Hugh Lawson on April 25.

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