August 12, 2019–8:00 a.m.
STAFF REPORTS
Motion hearings are set for this week in the RICO case of former Floyd County Schools Maintenance Director Derry Richardson and others indicted in a conspiracy to steal millions from the school system.
The indictment returned in October of 2018 alleges Richardson conspired with other BOE employees and employees of maintenance and construction companies to inflate or falsify invoices, which resulted in the theft of more than $6.3 million dollars between 2007 and 2015.
Also arrested in the case were Richardson’s wife, brother, and father, along with Russell David Burkhalter, Samuel Max Tucker, Harry Anthony Bailey, Robert Chad Watson, Charles Raiden Sherman, David Gary English, Rodney Don Holder, Sam Sprewell, and James David Fielder.
Two others who were arrested have since died.
According to a story in the Rome News-Tribune, many of the motions filed by the defense deal with the indictment itself and the establishment of the venue of the crimes.
In addition, Burkhalter, Fielder, Lisa Richardson, Jimmy Richardson, and Dwayne Richardson are asking to be tried separately from the other defendants.
The hearings are set to begin Monday morning at 9 a.m. in Judge Jack Niedrach’s Courtroom.