ATLANTA - Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker announced today that on Wednesday, October 7, 1998, William A. Adams entered a plea of guilty to two counts of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The charges were brought as a result of an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation into large scale thefts of timber from Keadle Lumber Company of Thomaston over a number of years commencing in the late 1980s.

Following entry of the plea, Adams was sentenced by Superior Court Judge L. A. McConnell , Jr., to serve two years in prison followed by 13 years probation. A fine of $20,000 was imposed. The court also ordered restitution to the victim in the amount of $125,000, with $30,000 of that amount to be paid at the time of sentencing. Adams was ordered to commence service of his sentence on November 9.

"This case is another successful prosecution of a number of instances of organized criminal activity by individuals exploiting one of Georgia's most important industries," said Baker. "I am very proud of the work of Special Assistant Attorneys General Patrick D. Deering, Robert Morton, and Joe Chambers. In addition, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation should be recognized for its fine efforts in these most complex and difficult cases."