Business owner, former bank officer charged
Atkinson had others apply for loans for his logging business
A recently unsealed federal indictment in the Middle District of Georgia in Macon charges Ronnie Atkinson with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and lists the amount of the fraud as $3 million.
Atkinson lived in Jones County at the time of the alleged fraud that involved loans he received from Morris Bank in Gray.
The indictment was unsealed and released April 30 and references loans that begin in 2018 and continue to 2022. The bank officer involved in the alleged conspiracy was charged in a separate indictment. A federal indictment isa formal document issued by a grand jury stating enough evidence was presented that a federal crime was committed.It signals that the government is ready to proceed with criminal charges.
In the document’s introduction, it is stated that the bank’s market president in Gray had lending authority up to $500,000 per customer. To lend money above that amount required approval from the senior credit officer from the bank.
“Factors to consider in approving any loan for Morris Bank included the borrower’s ability to prepay the loan, their financial condition, the loan purpose and collateral.”
The conspiracy also included a Macon check cashing company.
Information under Count One of the indictment states the first loan date was March 1, 2018, and the final loan included was dated Aug. 30, 2022.
Atkinson is alleged to have conspired with the bank officer and others to commit an offense against the United States to defraud and obtain money under the control of Morris Bank.
It is interesting to note that Atkinson was arrested in Jones County for a charge of theft by deception as the result of his attempt to defraud a local man. The incident report by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Kenny Allen is dated Aug. 16. 2022.
Atkinson gave the owner of a 2015 Mack truck a check for $50,000 that bounced and then would not return the vehicle. He was subsequently arrested and incarcerated in the Jones County jail.
Allen said in the process of his investigation, he discovered the offender had warrants from five counties in Georgia. His investigation ended when he was notified by FBI agents that they were taking over the case.
The indictment states that, in June of 2019, Atkinson reached the $500,000 threshold the market president could lend. At that time, Atkinson’s loans with Morris Bank were downgraded to substandard, which means they displayed a weakness that could jeopardize collection.
Also beginning in June of 2019, Atkinson began having relatives and friends appear as straw borrowers for loans intended for his benefit. The document states that the bank officer knew the subsequent loans were for Atkinson.
The amounts of a sample of the loans showing the actual purchase price of equipment and amount of loans as wells as loans to others for Atkinson’s benefit were listed in the indictment.
The document has information about how Atkinson received cash when the loan checks were cashed.
The final pages of the indictment is a forfeiture notice for Atkinson.
The Morris Bank officer in the Atkinson indictment was identified as Alan Childs, who subsequently pled guilty.
For more information, see related article about Childs’ conspiracy charge and plea.
