On February 26, 2013, a Richmond County Grand Jury indicted Alishia Williams, a former Medical College of Georgia (MCG) employee, on one count of Racketeering (O.C.G.A. §16-14-4(c)) and one count of Theft by Taking (O.C.G.A. § 16-8-2). The State alleges that Williams received approximately $20,000.00 in unearned compensation during 2009.

While employed by MCG, Williams was contracted to work as the lead nurse at the Bainbridge Probation Substance Abuse Treatment Center in Decatur County, Ga. The indictment alleges that Williams created a scheme to steal money from the State of Georgia by submitting time sheets that contained fraudulent information to MCG’s payroll department. The fraudulent information resulted in Williams being paid for hours the State now alleges she did not work.

Racketeering is punishable by five to 20 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $100,000.00. Theft by Taking is punishable by a maximum of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.00 fine.

Assistant Attorney General Laura D. Pfister is prosecuting the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Special Agent Michael Walsingham of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual(s) against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government’s burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.