Attorney General Thurbert Baker announced today that the Paulding County grand jury this week indicted Bert Love, a former employee of Hardy Fleet Sales, located at 1244 Marietta Highway in Dallas, Georgia. Love is charged with four counts of forgery and four counts of false statements.

The charges arise from allegations that Love, while employed by Hardy Fleet Sales as a salesman, forged bids from other dealerships. He allegedly did so in response to a request for bids for the purchase of three vehicles by the state for use by the Georgia Department of Drugs and Narcotics. The indictment charges that on or about September 24, 1999, Love forged bids from Thornton Chevrolet of Lithia Springs and Bellamy-Strickland Chevrolet of McDonough. He allegedly submitted these false bids, along with a bid from Hardy Fleet Sales, to the Georgia Department of Drugs and Narcotics with intent to defraud the state. Assistant Attorney General Cassandra J. Schansman is prosecuting the case.

“Whenever I find evidence that persons who deal with the state may be attempting to commit fraud against the taxpayers, I will thoroughly investigate and vigorously prosecute such matters,” Baker said.