Suspects Arrested in String of Ga. Arsons, Fraud

MOULTRIE — Six suspects in an arson and insurance fraud case who were arrested early Wednesday morning will have their initial court appearance today.

The four women and two men have been in the Colquitt County Jail since they were booked in Wednesday on one to 12 felony counts each. They’re scheduled to have bond hearings today at the Colquitt County Jail.

A seventh suspect has been charged with obstruction of an officer but not with any of the other charges. She will have a bond hearing today too.

Investigators with the Office of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner allege that the six took part in 10 arsons from April 2013-December 2015 and made insurance claims on purported property losses. The investigative team that included local as well as state officials uncovered that the suspects received claim settlements from Allstate, Assurant, GEICO and Farm Bureau Insurance totaling $392,000.

Investigators said that the scheme included seven fires in Moultrie and three outside the city in Colquitt County. The charges made in the case include three fires at a single residence, 908 Jonah Tillman Road, in September and October 2014 and February 2015.

Officers with the insurance commissioner’s office, Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office, Moultrie Fire Department and Moultrie Police Department made the arrests in about two hours. Investigators interviewed the suspects on Wednesday and they were booked in to the jail, a process that lasted most of the day.

Those arrested beginning at about 5 a.m. Wednesday and their charges are:

• Doris Ann Buie, 49, formerly of Moultrie; arson in the first degree, forgery in the first degree, identity fraud, five counts insurance fraud and two counts theft by deception. Buie was arrested in Clayton County.

• Ricky Lewis Forrest, 26, 1935 Third St. S.E.; arson in the first degree, forgery in the first degree, identity fraud, five counts insurance fraud and four counts theft by deception.

• Cachea Allendra Jones, 25, 706 Eighth Ave. N.W.; arson in the first degree, forgery in the first degree, identify fraud, six counts insurance fraud and theft by deception.

• Lvariaus Rhjone King, 24, 1605 First Ave. N.E.; arson in the first degree and false statements and writings.

• Diana McGee, 55, 1935 Third St. S.E.; arson in the first degree.

• Kanay Noiesha McGee 32, 1935 Third St. S.E.; arson in the first degree, forgery in the first degree, nine counts insurance fraud and theft by deception.

A seventh person, Shikia Ruth Lattimore, 21, 706 Eighth Ave. N.W. — who was not charged in the alleged arson and fraud scheme — was charged with obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer. Police said that she interfered with them while they tried to arrest a family member.

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