Gwinnett County Justice Center to Grow

The overcrowded county courthouse, better known as the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, is slated for an expansion using sales tax funds from the voter-approved 2009 SPLOST program that went into effect this month.

On Tuesday, commissioners awarded a $2.8 million contract for design and construction administration to the highest scoring of 14 bidders, Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects, Ltd., of Alpharetta. They will work closely with DLR Group-Orlando, a justice market specialist.

“We’re fortunate to have a site with room to add a new 200,000 square-foot wing on the east end of the building,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister. The three-story addition will house new courtrooms and support offices with prisoner holding facilities and secure indoor parking in the basement. A new parking deck is also included in the plan.

The SPLOST referendum approved by voters last November was originally estimated to raise $850 million over five years with $95 million specified for the courthouse expansion. But with sales tax collections falling in the recession, those estimates are now downgraded to a total of $785 million with $79 million for the courthouse wing. The County may leave some space unfinished until later pending final SPLOST collections.

Pieper O’Brien Herr is ranked among the top 25 architectural and interior design firms by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and DLR Group has been ranked first in criminal justice design by BD World Architecture magazine for the last six years.

The current SPLOST program also includes money for roads, parks, libraries, public safety facilities and city governments in Gwinnett.

Moody Won't Run for Fifth Term in State Senate

State Sen. Dan Moody (R-Alpharetta) announced recently he will not seek a fifth term in the Georgia State Senate. Since qualifying begins this time next year, Moody wanted to announce his intentions now to allow for others to consider the opportunity.

“It has been an honor to represent the residents of the Roswell area since I was first elected in 2002 and I’m confident a leader in the community will step forward to represent the city’s best long term interests,” said Moody. “It’s a wonderful group of people and they deserve the best. By sharing my intentions at this time, they will be assured all candidates for this office can be thoroughly evaluated between now and the primary election.”

Moody represents the 56th Senate district, which covers a large part of North Fulton County including the entire city of Roswell and parts of a few other cities.

Moody commented he is most proud of his role in securing the passage of legislation to ensure children with disabilities are provided appropriate services. “I tried to focus my attention on the less fortunate people that needed the most help,” he said. Moody successfully led several major Education initiatives through the legislative process.

When asked about his future plans, Moody expressed an interest in helping his physician son with mission work and spending more time with his six grandchildren.

Verizon Wireless Dials Up Jobs for Alpharetta

In a spot of good economic news for Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced today that Verizon Wireless is opening a new customer service center in Alpharetta, making for 600 jobs and investing $27 million.

Verizon Wireless will unveil the new center in Alpharetta’s Sanctuary Park office complex. Applications will be accepted online only, starting April 30.

Verizon Wireless, which has a 395,000 square-foot Campus in Alpharetta and two Sanctuary Park offices, will start recruiting efforts in this month, hiring in May and training in July.

To apply for a job with Verizon Wireless at the new center, visit www.verizonwireless.com/careers.

Alpharetta Fire Captain Charged in Child Case

Alpharetta Fire Captain Tristen Cruz is in hot water with authorities, charged with six counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

According to authorities, Cruz, an employee of the city for seven years, has been placed on administrative leave with pay from his job as the city's fire services captain. Cruz allegedly had images of child pornography on two of his computers.

Cruz, who turned himself in yesterday, was being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Attorney Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Mary Reagan, 41, of Alpharetta, has been sentenced to serve almost five years in federal prison for her role in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme. Reagan pleaded guilty in July 2008 shortly before she was to go to trial, and agreed to assist the government in the prosecution of the scheme.

Reagan was sentenced to four years, nine months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Reagan was also ordered to pay full restitution of over $4,000,000 and an exact amount will be determined by the court at a later date.

According to investigators and information presented in court: From mid-2004 through June 2006, Reagan was an attorney, doing business as The Reagan Law Group, closing millions of dollars of fraudulently inflated mortgage loans being provided to unqualified straw buyers. Reagan was the attorney responsible for representing the mortgage lenders at the closing table. When the loans closed, Reagan instead transferred millions of dollars of the inflated loan proceeds to her co-conspirators by falsifying closing documents, such as the HUD-1 settlement statements, and concealing from the lenders the true recipients and purposes of payments made in connection with the closing.

Reagan also reportedly concealed from the lenders that the unqualified straw buyers did not make sizeable down payments required by lenders as a condition of closing. On one property, Reagan reportedly falsified title work and other documents to conceal from a lender that the property was already encumbered by two mortgages at an inflated price, ensuring that the lender's security interest in the property was worthless.

Milinavicius Gets Pair of Life Sentences in Killings

Rolandas Milinavicius got the news on Wednesday and it wasn't good.

The former East Point auto dealer was convicted of murdering a pair of his employees in the summer of 2007, resulting in two consecutive life sentences plus an additional 10 years.

Milinavicius, 40, of Alpharetta was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The victims, Marytnas Simokatis, 28, and Inga Contreras, 25, were found shot to death at the dealership and had reportedly asked for raises less than a month before being killed.