Another suspect pleads in Muscogee Superior Court clerk scandal over stolen funds
A fourth suspect pleaded guilty Tuesday in the Muscogee Superior Court Clerk’s office scandal involving former worker Willie Demps, who’s accused of stealing nearly half a million dollars in government funds.
Terry McBride was among eight suspects indicted with Demps in his scheme of writing checks on clerk’s office accounts to his cohorts, who cashed them at local banks before giving Demps the money.
McBride, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land, who already has taken pleas from codefendants Lamarcus Palmer, Samuel Cole and George Cook. They are all to be sentenced Feb. 15.
McBride faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin Hyde cited 38 instances in which McBride cashed checks on Demps’ behalf between March 21 and Nov. 26, 2019, the amounts ranging from $2,438 to $9,725. McBride is to pay $299,285 in restitution, Hyde said.
When questioned about the checks, McBride initially told investigators he was a bail bondsman entitled to funds from the clerk’s office, Hyde said.
McBride was represented Tuesday by Columbus attorney Jennifer Curry.
The case
Besides Demps, those yet to resolve their charges are Rosalee Bassi, Curtis Porch and Dereen Porch, also known as Dereen Fitzgerald.
All the codefendants are accused of helping Demps steal at least $467,000 from accounts that Demps managed while working nearly 30 years for the clerk’s office, part of that time as chief deputy clerk.
Arrested Aug. 18, Demps and his codefendants were named in a 71-count indictment alleging wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and transporting stolen goods and money.
Land has said he expects pretrial hearings in the case to be held in November, and any trials to begin in January.
The investigation continues, meanwhile, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin Hyde has said significantly more government funds still are missing. An FBI agent in August testified that out of $5.9 million in cash collected by the clerk’s office from 2010 to 2019, only $210 was deposited to office accounts.
Though Demps, 63, so far is charged with stealing nearly half-million in government funds in 2019, Hyde has said authorities suspect that over the years, he took a total of at least $1.5 million.
This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 11:48 AM.