ELLIJAY, Ga.
Crypto scam nets $18,300
A fraud case involving $18,300 in Bitcoin sent to scammers made the Aug. 22 roundup on the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office app.
At 3:30 p.m. Aug. 21, the victim, whose name is being withheld, received a phone call from a male by the name of David Martizez who claimed to be from United Community Bank in South Carolina, according to the incident report. She was told by Martizez they had been defrauded for $1,700-$1,800 in Bitcoin and would have to send money to get the case cleared up.
The scammer directed the woman to go to a United Community Bank in Murphy, N.C., to withdraw $20,200. She was then to go to New Hope Grocery to send $18,300 through a Bitcoin machine. She also went to Ducktown, Tenn., to send Bitcoin as well.
The woman contacted the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office on the morning of Aug. 22 and told them about the incident. She was advised to contact law enforcement in Murphy as well. Gilmer County detectives were contacting Bitcoin, and the incident was under investigation, according to the report.
MURPHY
Two quakes affect region
Cherokee and surrounding counties experienced two earthquakes with magnitudes up to 2.2 within 63 miles of Aug. 27.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake with a magnitude of 2.2 hit at 5:21 a.m. and was centered in Blount County, Tenn. The other quake, at 1.8 magnitude, occurred at 2:09 p.m. and was centered in Monroe County, Tenn.
Most people don’t feel a quake with a magnitude below 2. No damage nor injuries were reported.
MARBLE
Man charged in sex crimes
A local man was arrested on sexual assault charges and is being held in lieu of $2 million bond.
Jason Lewis Gibby, 50, of Columbia Marble Plant Road, was arrested on Aug. 26 and booked on four sexual assault-related charges, including two first-degree statutory rape charges.
He was being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center in Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown. The Times-Courier contributed to this report.