The Hartwell Sun
Thursday, November 14, 2019 Hartwell, Hart County, Georgia 30643 Vol. 144 No. 19 $1.00 Per Copy
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R.C. OGLESBY ARRESTED
County commissioner and family implicated in organized crime scheme
By Michael Hall
and Grayson Williams
The Hartwell Sun
Hart County Commissioner R.C.
Oglesby is out of jail on $50,000 bond
after being arrested along with several
family members last Thursday for his
alleged role in a racketeering scheme
that involved food stamp fraud and
drug sales.
Steven Oglesby, R.C.’s son, was also
released on $50,000 bond. Amy Ogles-
by, Steven’s wife who is facing 10
counts of racketeering, was released on
$25,000 bond. Dasia Oglesby, Mo-
nique Oglesby and Nelson Blackwell
were also released on $25,000 bond.
Thomas Strange was denied bond in
magistrate court on Sunday and will
have a Superior Court bond hearing at
a later date.
A consent order bond was agreed
upon by the District Attorney’s office,
Senior Superior Court judge David
Sweat and the Oglesbys’ attorney on
Tuesday, according to the Hart County
Sheriff’s Office and Hart County Clerk
of Superior Court’s office.
Sunshots by Grayson Williams
R.C. Oglesby was originally denied
Hart County Commissioner R.C. Oglesby, above, enters a bond hearing on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Hart County jail in shackles. Below,
bond Friday afternoon, Nov. 8, in his
his son Steven Oglesby, right, listens to magistrate Judge Thomas Jordan and attorney Tim Healy, left, during his bond hearing, also
first appearance since being arrested at the jail on Nov. 8.
Thursday morning on racketeering and
shoplifting charges. The racketeering Oglesby, after she was charged with
charges are related to an alleged misdemeanor willful obstruction for
scheme to commit fraud using EBT allegedly not providing her cellphone
cards issued by the federal Supplemen- to officers and resisting arrest, accord-
tal Nutrition Assistance Program. ing to an arrest warrant.
In the initial bond hearing that R.C. Oglesby, Steven Oglesby, Amy
began about 1:30 p.m. Friday, Chief Oglesby, Yolanda Monique Oglesby,
Magistrate Judge Thomas Jordan de- Dasia Oglesby and Nelson Blackwell
ferred the six defendants who appeared were all denied bond for their alleged
facing RICO charges to Hart County involvement in the racketeering
Superior Court, meaning they spent the scheme. All of them were charged
weekend in jail. under RICO, or Racketeer Influenced
“I’ve got my church I need to get in and Corrupt Organizations Act.
touch with,” R.C. Oglesby said when Several of the defendants were in
told he would not be bonding out. “I’m tears as Jordan read them their rights
a pastor at the church.” and told them what crimes they were
Bond was set at $1,500 for one de-
fendant on Friday, Tyqushia Fre’sha See Arrest page 3A
County urges satellite Hartwell woman dies
market modification in head-on crash
By Grayson Williams the county was granted a satellite televi- By Grayson Williams The driver of the Camry, Dorathy Link,
Staff writer sion market modification last year. Staff writer 63, of Hartwell, died as a result of the
“After years of focused effort, the crash. She was the only person inside the
Hart County took another step toward awarded Memorandum and Orders for A two-vehicle crash resulted in the vehicle.
lifting its “orphan” county status by urg- market modification were considered a death of a Hartwell woman Tuesday The GSP Specialized Collision Recon-
ing the Federal Communications Com- great success for the people of North- night. struction Team (SCRT) was called in to
mission to make a decision on the im- east Georgia,” the letter wrote. “The A preliminary investigation revealed investigate the crash.
pending market modification appeal. Order provided a means for our citizens that around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, a 2003 The driver of the truck, 22-year-old
The Hart County Board of Commis- to receive pertinent news, weather, Dodge Ram 2500 travelling south on Ga. Gregory Luke Carnes, of Hartwell, was
sioners voted 4-0, commissioner R.C. sports, politics, and other broadcasts Highway 51 crossed the center line near transported to the hospital for non-life
Oglesby was absent, to send a letter to from our state.” Mt. Olivet Road, striking a 2017 Toyota threatening injuries, Webb said. No one
the FCC requesting they make a deci- The letter was originally intended to Camry travelling north head-on, accord- else was inside the vehicle at the time of
sion on the Application for Review that ing to Georgia State Patrol Commander
was submitted by opposing parties after See Satellite page 6A Tracy Webb. See Crash page 6A
Obituaries Index
Ethylder McGhee Barbara Gibson Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A
Remell Blackwell Lisa Wilson Police News . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A
Morris Bradford Nonnie Marett Editorial Page . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
Austin Nestor William Rucker Hart News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6B
Dwayne Lunceford Mamie Bell Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8B
How to contact us: Call 706-376-8025 Fax 706-376-3016 e-mail editor@thehartwellsun.com Office 8 Benson St. P.O. Box 700
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Booking photos from the Hart County Detention Center
From left to right, top row, R.C. Oglesby, Steven Oglesby, Amy Oglesby, Dasia Oglesby. Bottom row, Nelson Blackwell,
Thomas Strange, Tyqushia Oglesby, Debra Craig, Monique Oglesby.
from page 1A
ARREST 706-376-5441
149 Hartwell Marina Rd.
accused of committing. racketeering. also investigate, he mit EBT fraud. HARTWELL, GA
Thomas Strange and • Dasia Oglesby, 21, is said. Federal charges are A warrant for Monique
Debra Craig who were also charged with one count of expected as well. Oglesby claims she used an W e are W in terized .
arrested in connection with racketeering. Over the weekend, depu- EBT card not issued to her C om e E n joy th e V iew !
the case did not appear in • Monique Oglesby, 28, is ties executed another search on Oct. 16, the same day
the bond hearing. Strange is charged with one count of warrant in connection with R.C. Oglesby’s warrant al-
also facing two RICO racketeering. the alleged racketeering leges he committed the Hart County Property Owners’ Association
charges and was later de- • Nelson Blackwell is scheme. Deputies searched same crime twice.
nied bond. Craig’s bond charged with one count of First Quality in Anderson, Also on Oct. 16, a war-
was set at $1,000 but she
had not bonded out as of
racketeering.
• Thomas Lee Strange is
where the Oglesbys had a
food vending trailer locat-
rant for Thomas Strange’s
arrest claims he used an
HO LIDAY
Tuesday morning.
Jordan explained during
the hearing that because the
charged with two counts of
racketeering.
• Debra Leigh Craig is
ed, but the search yielded
no results.
Arrest warrants indicate
EBT card illegally as well.
Another warrant for
Strange claims he and Ste-
S AFETY
charges fall under the RICO charged with one count of authorities believe Black- ven Oglesby provided mar- PREDATORS ARE OUT IN FORCE
Act, he would defer bond to possession of methamphet- well and Steven Oglesby ijuana to someone in ex- AN D THEY ARE AFTER YOU
the Superior Court. amine related objects, ac- conspired in an organized change for an EBT card.
Oglesby’s attorney, Tim cording to a jail booking manner in violation of rack- Sheriff Cleveland said his An tho n y Da vis - Chief o f Po lice
Healy, who represented all report. eteering laws on July 23 to office heard rumors regard-
clients who appeared on • Tyqushia Fre’sha Ogles- sell crack cocaine. Another ing illegal activity in the
Monday, November, 18 - 7 pm
Friday, declined to com- by is charged with misde- warrant claims Steven and past, but wouldn’t speculate
meanor obstruction of a law Amy Oglesby conspired on as to how long this scheme
Meeting is open/free to the public
ment, but noted during the
hearing that he was only the enforcement officer by use Aug. 20 to commit finan- may have been operating. Meeting location: Adult Learning
attorney for the bond hear- of threats of violence. cial card transaction fraud “We got an informant, Center lower level meeting room
ing and was uncertain if he Search warrants were by providing an EBT card somebody inside the circle, accessed from back of Hart County
would represent any of the served Thursday at 414 to a woman that was not is- that said they wanted to Library. 150 Benson Street
defendants further. Winding Way, R.C. Ogles- sued to her in exchange for work with us and or the 545947
THE RAIDS by’s home, 1380 North For- marijuana. A third racke- GBI. So we knew we did
AND ARRESTS est Avenue, Steven Ogles- teering warrant for Steven not have the man-power or
R.C. Oglesby, 65, who by’s home, and at 2152 and Oglesby claims he used his the technology to do what
has served as a commis- 2132 Anderson Highway, cellphone to facilitate the had to be done so we called
sioner since 1989, was ar- the locations of R&D Car sale of marijuana. A fourth the GBI and it went from
rested at Tenneco at around Wash and Ludi’s Soul arrest warrant claims Ste- there,” Cleveland said.
8:30 a.m. Thursday as Hart Food. ven Oglesby took a deliv- THE COUNTY
County Sheriff’s deputies, Ludi’s Soul Food held the ery of cocaine from a man COMMISSION
Hartwell Police officers and food service contract with after Oglesby was “paid a R.C. Oglesby may agree
Georgia Bureau of Investi- Hart County to feed in- sum of money for the pow- to a voluntary suspension
gation agents served search mates at the county jail der cocaine.” from the Hart County Com-
and arrest warrants simulta- until Thursday evening, Warrants for R.C. Ogles- mission, but the process for
neously at four locations in Nov. 7, when the Hart by’s arrest on racketeering suspension and potential
Hartwell and Hart County. County Commission, voted charges claim he twice used replacement begins once a
The raids were the result 4-0 in an emergency meet- EBT cards not issued to county commissioner has
of six month’s worth of in- ing to terminate it. County him between 5-6:30 a.m. on been indicted, according to
vestigation by the agencies Administrator Terrell Par- Oct. 16. a spokesperson for the As-
that they say revealed evi- tain and the jail manager Shoplifting arrest war- sociation of County Com-
dence that R.C. and Steven were given permission to rants issued for R.C. Ogles- missioners of Georgia.
Oglesby and family mem- find a temporary replace- by claim he “skip-scanned” Should Oglesby be in-
bers were buying and trad- ment for the service until a numerous items on various dicted, the Governor will
ing drugs for food stamp new contract with a new dates at Walmart self- appoint a review commis-
cards issued through the provider is signed. The jail checkout lines between sion consisting of the state
U.S. Department of Agri- has been working with In- Sept. 30 and Oct. 31. Items attorney general and two
culture’s SNAP program gles to provide food for in- include nine boxes of Little county commissioners.
from people to whom they mates. Debbie oatmeal cakes, Oglesby would have 14
were issued and using the The Georgia Bureau of eight Red Bulls, one case of days to accept a voluntary
cards to buy food and other Investigation also obtained Great Value brand water, suspension. If he did not ac-
items for their businesses. undisclosed amounts of co- five packs of Carolina cept suspension after indict-
Arrest warrants also claim caine and marijuana as evi- brand bacon, one pack of ment, the review commis-
some of the defendants dence during the raids on Swaggerty sausage, five sion would then make a
were buying and selling Thursday, according to a Mountain Dews, one Pepsi, written report to the gover-
drugs. press release from the Ap- four cans of beef stew, one nor. If it determines the in-
The raids netted nine ar-
rests on Thursday that led
palachian Regional Drug
Enforcement Office. Sheriff
pack of Success Rice, four
packs of RW Sausage, one
dictment adversely affects
the administration of his
Time for a year-end
to the charges that follow: Mike Cleveland told The can of pork and beans, six elected office and the gov- investment review.
• R.C. Oglesby, is facing Hartwell Sun that ecstasy, packages of hamburger ernor agrees, he would then
two counts of racketeering methamphetamine, steroids meat, two packs of ham have the discretion to sus-
under the RICO Act and 10 and counterfeit money was sandwich meat and cheese, pend Oglesby. Michael J Dyar, AAMS®
counts of shoplifting that also found at Steven Ogles- one can of Great Value Should he be suspended, Michael
Financial J Dyar, AAMS®
Advisor
allegedly occurred in Hart- by’s home. mushroom soup, two a replacement would be ap- Financial Advisor
37 East Franklin St Suite 100
Michael J Dyar,StAAMS®
well. He was also report- Steven Oglesby was ter- bunches of bananas and pointed by the governor for Hartwell,
37 GA 30643
East Franklin
Financial Advisor
706-376-0748
Hartwell, GA 30643
Suite 100
edly had an EBT card on minated from his job as a four packages of chicken the duration of the term or 706-376-0748
37 East Franklin St Suite 100
him at the time of his arrest school bus driver after the drumsticks. In all, the items until the suspension is lift- Hartwell, GA 30643
706-376-0748
that did not belong to him. Hart County Board of Edu- amounted to more than ed. edwardjones.com
• Steven Oglesby, 41, cation approved the super- $215. Oglesby has not been in-
who is R.C. Ogelsby’s son, intendent’s personnel rec- Amy Oglesby is accused dicted, so this process has edwardjones.com
faces three counts of rack- ommendations at the in 10 arrest warrants of not begun and Oglesby is
eteering. He allegedly pos- board’s regular meeting using EBT cards not issued still technically a sitting
sessed a stolen Glock fire- Monday night. to her between Aug. 18 and county commissioner. He
arm when he was arrested. THE INVESTIGATION Oct. 28 that were provided will continue to receive the
Steven owns R&D Car- Investigators are still to her by Steven Oglesby compensation that comes
wash on Anderson High- gathering evidence in the and that he acquired by bar- with it until a potential con-
way. case and Cleveland said he tering with marijuana. viction. If he is found inno-
• Amy Oglesby, 38, Ste- expects more arrests to Dasia Oglesby is accused cent or if the charges are
phen Oglesby’s wife, who come. The U.S. Department in a warrant of working dropped while suspended,
owns Ludi’s Soul Food, is of Agriculture, which runs with Steven and Amy in the Oglesby would be immedi-
charged with 10 counts of the SNAP program, will scheme on Aug. 18 to com- ately reinstated.
