WAYCROSS PARALEGAL CHARGED WITH BANK FRAUD
AND THEFT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS

SAVANNAH, GA: Edmund A. Booth, Jr., Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced today the return of a two count indictment against GINA A. WOOTEN, formerly a paralegal in Waycross, Georgia by the federal grand jury sitting in Savannah, Ga.. The Defendant is charged with Bank Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344 and Theft of Government Funds in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

The indictment alleges that from July, 2004 until August, 2006, while employed as a paralegal for a Waycross law firm, Defendant GINA A. WOOTEN, knowingly executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain money, in the form of Official Government Checks, totaling more than $110,000. If convicted, the defendant faces a statutory sentence of up to thirty (30) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000; and, a period of supervised release of up to five (5) years.

Mr. Booth stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt.

The Defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Court has scheduled an arraignment in this case for March 20 in Brunswick. FBI Special Agent Mark A. Alig conducted the investigation which led to the indictment. The government is being represented by Assistant United States Attorney Brian F.McEvoy.

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06-07