Page 17
THE HERALD JOURNAL, Greensboro, Ga..Thursday, May 14, 2020
Greene County Sheriffs Seizure Notice M Greene County Sheriffs Seizure Notice
NOTICE OF SEIZURE
Pursuant to OCGA 9-16-6 and 16-13-49 for personal property valued less than $25,000.00
FORFEITURE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY DESIGNATED AS CONTRABAND PURSUANT TO O.C.G.A. 9-16-6 and
16-13-49.
PURPORTED OWNERS (S)/INTEREST HOLDERS(s):
Ernest Lee Smith, Jr.
3657 Hoyt St.
Columbia, SC 29223
Sylvia Deon Belton
323 Ferrell Dr.
Columbia, SC 29204
Pursuant to OCGA 9-16-6 and 16-13-49, all parties claiming an interest in the following described property are hereby
notified that said property has been lawfully seized and is subject to forfeiture by virtue of the facts and violations set out
below.
DATE OF SEIZURE: 05/07/2020
PLACE OF SEIZURE: I-20 Westbound @ 127 mile marker
Greene County, GA
VIOLATION OF LAW ALLEGED: VGCSA
DESCRIPTION OF SEIZED PROPERTY: $9,000.00 U.S. Currency
CONDUCT GIVING RISE TO SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE:
On 05/07/2020, Sgt. Paquette conducted a traffic stop westbound on I-20 for a window tint violation which resulted in
the seizure of U.S. Currency. Sgt. Paquette observed a black in color Lincoln traveling westbound on i-20 and the vehicle
had dark tinted windows. Sgt. Paquette observed the vehicle to be displaying South Carolina tag #V44561. Sgt. Paquette
approached the vehicle on the passenger’s side to make contact with the occupants. Sgt. Paquette made contact with the
driver and he was then identified as Ezra Titus Thomas by the South Carolina driver’s license he presented. Mr. Thomas
also presented a registration for the vehicle and stated the vehicle belonged to him. Sgt. Paquette tested the window tint on
the vehicle and determined it to be 6%. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas to step out of the vehicle and he complied. Once
at the rear of the vehicle, Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas where they were going and he stated to Atlanta, his brother
stays there. Sgt. Paquette explained to Mr. Thomas that his window tint was 6% and that is about 5 times the legal limit. Mr.
Thomas stated he was 100% disabled. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas if there were any guns in the car and he stated
no. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas where they were going in Atlanta and he stated Stone, then said his brother lives in
Lawrenceville. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas who was in the car with him and he stated his friend and his girl. Sgt.
Paquette asked Mr. Thomas if there was any large sums of money in the car and he stated no. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr.
Thomas for consent to search the car and he stated ok. Mr. Thomas then stated he had like $10,000 in his bag in the trunk.
Sgt. Paquette then made contact with the front seat passenger in the car and identified him as Ernest Lee Smith, Jr. Sgt.
Paquette asked Mr. Smith where they were going and he said to the MetroMart in Atlanta. Mr. Smith stated he gets gold
teeth there half off the price they cost in Columbia. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Smith how much money he had and he stated
him and his girlfriend had $9,000. Mr. Smith stated $5,000 was his and $4,000 was hers. Mr. Smith stated his girlfriend had
the money in her pocketbook.
Sgt. Paquette then made contact with the back seat passenger who was identified as Sylvia Deon Belton. Sgt. Paquette
asked Ms. Belton where they were going and she stated shopping in Atlanta. Ms. Belton stated her boyfriend had $8,000
and none of it was hers. Ms. Belton stated she was holding the money for her boyfriend.
While searching the car, Sgt. Paquette located a Gucci bookbag in the trunk of the vehicle. In the front pocket of the
Gucci bag, Sgt. Paquette located a green in color Crown Royal bag and several rubberbanded bundles of money. Mr.
Thomas stated the bag and money belonged to him. Mr. Thomas stated he owns a strip club in Florence, SC called
Exotics. Mr. Thomas then stated the money was $12,000 total. Laying on the backseat of the vehicle was a black in color
pocketbook and on the top of the pocketbook was a green in color Crown Royal bag. Inside the Crown Royal bag, Sgt.
Paquette located multiple rubberbanded bundles of currency. Sgt. Paquette also notes there were 5 cell phones laying on
the front seats of the vehicle.
Sgt. Paquette then made contact with Mr. Thomas again and asked him about the faint odor of marijuana that he smelled
while searching the car. Mr. Thomas stated he was with a girl, not his wife, last night that was smoking marijuana in his car.
Mr. Thomas stated 3 of the phones belonged to him. Mr. Thomas stated 1 phone was his personal phone, 1 phone was his
pressure washing company, and 1 phone was the phone the dancers called. Mr. Thomas did not know the number to the
phone his dancers called. Mr. Thomas stated his pressure washing company is Titus Pro Touch and it is based out of his
home. Mr. Thomas stated he gets $3,700 a month from disability. Mr. Thomas stated he has been to prison a few times
and to Federal prison on a drug charge.
Mr. Smith stated he has worked at TB Kawsham for 2 years and he makes $14.37 an hour. Mr. Smith stated he had a
drug charge in 2001. Mr. Smith stated 2 of the cell phones belonged to him. Mr. Smith stated his money was $9,000 total.
Ms. Belton stated she is unemployed and now after speaking to Mr. Smith, she stated $4,000 of the money belongs to
her.
Sgt. Paquette placed the money that was located in the Gucci bag in an evidence bag and the money that was located
in Ms. Belton’s bag in a separate evidence bag. Sgt. Paquette transported the money to the Sheriff’s Office for a K-9
sniff. Once at the Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Paquette placed the money that was in the Gucci bag in 1 of 3 cardboard boxes
and deployed K-9 “Oby” for a sniff around the boxes. K-9 “Oby” gave a positive alert for the odor of narcotics on the box
that contained the money. Sgt. Paquette placed the money that was in Ms. Belton’s pocketbook in 1 of 3 boxes and again
deployed K-9 “Oby” for a sniff around the boxes. K-9 “Oby” gave a positive alert for the odor of narcotics on the box that
contained the money.
The money was then transported to Farmers Bank for a count and deposit. The total in the bag that Mr. Thomas claimed
was $12,000 and the total in the bag that Mr. Smith claimed was $9,000. Sgt. Paquette also determined that all 3 subjects
had extensive criminal histories to include narcotics possession and distribution charges.
All parties claiming an interest in said property are further advised that they may file a claim within thirty (30) days of the
second publication of this Notice of Seizure by sending a claim to the seizing law enforcement agency and to the District
Attorney by Certified Mail, return receipt requested, to the address set out below.
This 11th day of May, 2020.
Name: Sgt. Patrick Paquette
Title: Deputy Sheriff
Seizing Agency: Greene County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Donnie A. Harrison, Jr.
1201 Kevin Roberts Way
Greensboro, GA 30642
DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE:
Allison Mauldin, Assistant District Attorney
Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit
113 N. Main Street, Suite 216
Greensboro, GA 30642
706-453-3339
21may3c
© Sliil>;]’’oint Media
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD
THEME: MOVIE CHARACTERS
ACROSS
1. Curasao neighbor
6. Lungful
9. Not on a rolling stone
13. British unemployment checks
14. Schiller’s famous poem, e.g.
15. “Will comply” in radio
communication
16. Opposite of liability
17. Napoleon Bonaparte or Louis
Vuitton, e.g.
18. Embedded design
19. ‘Teen with telescopic powers
21. ‘Adventurous professor with
fear of snakes
23. ‘He played it in “Casablanca”
24. Sign of escape
25. Steampunk decoration
28. Thanksgiving tubers
30. Fear of flying, e.g.
35. Bun baker
37. “CliffsNotes,” e.g.
39. Bound by oath
40. Nay, to a baby
41. Bread spreads
43. ‘She takes on PG&E
44. Sacrificial spot
46. Wedding promise?
47. Not yet final
48. Eats between meals
50. Blood-related problem
52. Ship pronoun
53. Diamond’s corner
55. Be obliged
57. Name before X
61. ‘Orphan who wanted more
gruel
64. Love between Abelard and
HeloTse
65. Pitching stat
67. Nostrils, anatomically
speaking
69. Pine
NOTICE OF SEIZURE
Pursuant to OCGA 9-16-6 and 16-13-49 for personal property valued less than $25,000.00
FORFEITURE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY DESIGNATED AS CONTRABAND PURSUANT TO O.C.G.A. 9-16-6 and
16-13-49.
PURPORTED OWNERS (S)/INTEREST HOLDERS(s):
Ezra Titus Thomas
4210 Lake Hartwell Drive
Florence, SC 29501
Pursuant to OCGA 9-16-6 and 16-13-49, all parties claiming an interest in the following described property are hereby
notified that said property has been lawfully seized and is subject to forfeiture by virtue of the facts and violations set out
below.
DATE OF SEIZURE: 05/07/2020
PLACE OF SEIZURE: I-20 Westbound @ 127 mile marker
Greene County, GA
VIOLATION OF LAW ALLEGED: VGCSA
DESCRIPTION OF SEIZED PROPERTY: $12,000.00 U.S. Currency
CONDUCT GIVING RISE TO SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE:
On 05/07/2020, Sgt. Paquette conducted a traffic stop westbound on i-20 for a window tint violation which resulted in
the seizure of U.S. Currency. Sgt. Paquette observed a black in color Lincoln traveling westbound on i-20 and the vehicle
had dark tinted windows. Sgt. Paquette observed the vehicle to be displaying South Carolina tag #V44561. Sgt. Paquette
approached the vehicle on the passenger's side to make contact with the occupants. Sgt. Paquette made contact with the
driver and he was then identified as Ezra Titus Thomas by the South Carolina driver’s license he presented. Mr. Thomas
also presented a registration for the vehicle and stated the vehicle belonged to him. Sgt. Paquette tested the window tint on
the vehicle and determined it to be 6%. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas to step out of the vehicle and he complied. Once
at the rear of the vehicle, Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas where they were going and he stated to Atlanta, his brother
stays there. Sgt. Paquette explained to Mr. Thomas that his window tint was 6% and that is about 5 times the legal limit. Mr.
Thomas stated he was 100% disabled. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas if there were any guns in the car and he stated
no. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas where they were going in Atlanta and he stated Stone, then said his brother lives in
Lawrenceville. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Thomas who was in the car with him and he stated his friend and his girl. Sgt.
Paquette asked Mr. Thomas if there was any large sums of money in the car and he stated no. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr.
Thomas for consent to search the car and he stated ok. Mr. Thomas then stated he had like $10,000 in his bag in the trunk.
Sgt. Paquette then made contact with the front seat passenger in the car and identified him as Ernest Lee Smith, Jr. Sgt.
Paquette asked Mr. Smith where they were going and he said to the MetroMart in Atlanta. Mr. Smith stated he gets gold
teeth there half off the price they cost in Columbia. Sgt. Paquette asked Mr. Smith how much money he had and he stated
him and his girlfriend had $9,000. Mr. Smith stated $5,000 was his and $4,000 was hers. Mr. Smith stated his girlfriend had
the money in her pocketbook.
Sgt. Paquette then made contact with the back seat passenger who was identified as Sylvia Deon Belton. Sgt. Paquette
asked Ms. Belton where they were going and she stated shopping in Atlanta. Ms. Belton stated her boyfriend had $8,000
and none of it was hers. Ms. Belton stated she was holding the money for her boyfriend.
While searching the car, Sgt. Paquette located a Gucci bookbag in the trunk of the vehicle. In the front pocket of the Gucci
bag, Sgt. Paquette located a green in color Crown Royal bag and several rubberbanded bundles of money. Mr. Thomas
stated the bag and money belonged to him. Mr. Thomas stated he owns a strip club in Florence, SC called Exotics. Mr.
Thomas then stated the money was $12,000 total. Laying on the backseat of the vehicle was a black in color pocketbook
and on the top of the pocketbook was a green in color Crown Royal bag. Inside the Crown Royal bag, Sgt. Paquette located
multiple rubberbanded bundles of currency. Sgt. Paquette also notes there were 5 cell phones laying on the front seats of
the vehicle.
Sgt. Paquette then made contact with Mr. Thomas again and asked him about the faint odor of marijuana that he smelled
while searching the car. Mr. Thomas stated he was with a girl, not his wife, last night that was smoking marijuana in his car.
Mr. Thomas stated 3 of the phones belonged to him. Mr. Thomas stated 1 phone was his personal phone, 1 phone was his
pressure washing company, and 1 phone was the phone the dancers called. Mr. Thomas did not know the number to the
phone his dancers called. Mr. Thomas stated his pressure washing company is Titus Pro Touch and it is based out of his
home. Mr. Thomas stated he gets $3,700 a month from disability. Mr. Thomas stated he has been to prison a few times and
to Federal prison on a drug charge.
Mr. Smith stated he has worked atTB Kawsham for 2 years and he makes $14.37 an hour. Mr. Smith stated he had a drug
charge in 2001. Mr. Smith stated 2 of the cell phones belonged to him. Mr. Smith stated his money was $9,000 total.
Ms. Belton stated she is unemployed and now after speaking to Mr. Smith, she stated $4,000 of the money belongs to her.
Sgt. Paquette placed the money that was located in the Gucci bag in an evidence bag and the money that was located in
Ms. Belton’s bag in a separate evidence bag. Sgt. Paquette transported the money to the Sheriff’s Office for a K-9 sniff. Once
at the Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Paquette placed the money that was in the Gucci bag in 1 of 3 cardboard boxes and deployed
K-9 “Oby” for a sniff around the boxes. K-9 “Oby” gave a positive alert for the odor of narcotics on the box that contained the
money. Sgt. Paquette placed the money that was in Ms. Belton’s pocketbook in 1 of 3 boxes and again deployed K-9 “Oby”
for a sniff around the boxes. K-9 “Oby” gave a positive alert for the odor of narcotics on the box that contained the money.
The money was then transported to Farmers Bank for a count and deposit. The total in the bag that Mr. Thomas claimed
was $12,000 and the total in the bag that Mr. Smith claimed was $9,000. Sgt. Paquette also determined that all 3 subjects
had extensive criminal histories to include narcotics possession and distribution charges.
All parties claiming an interest in said property are further advised that they may file a claim within thirty (30) days of the
second publication of this Notice of Seizure by sending a claim to the seizing law enforcement agency and to the District
Attorney by Certified Mail, return receipt requested, to the address set out below.
This 11th day of May, 2020.
Name: Sgt. Patrick Paquette
Title: Deputy Sheriff
Seizing Agency: Greene County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Donnie A. Harrison, Jr.
1201 Kevin Roberts Way
Greensboro, GA 30642
DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE:
Allison Mauldin, Assistant District Attorney
Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit
113 N. Main Street, Suite 216
Greensboro, GA 30642
706-453-3339
21may3c
70. Fleur-de-
71. Novelist Wharton
72. ‘Adopted orphan of Green
Gables
73. Auction set
74. Like a disreputable
neighborhood
DOWN
1. Palindromic title
2. CISC alternative
3. ‘Female Superman foe
alongside General Zod
4. Afrikaners’ ancestors
5. Off course
6. First-rate
7. Nuptial agreement
8. Version of a song
9. Mr. Bean’s ride
10. Paella pot
11. Diagnostic test
12. Bean that rhymes with Goya
15. Distance from side to side, pi.
20. Insect in adult stage
22. Tiny bite
24. Most vital part
25. *A barbarian
26. Convex molding
27. Ladies and , for short
29. ‘a.k.a. The Mayor of Castro
Street
31. ‘Hutch actor in 2004’s
“Starsky & Hutch”
32. ‘Famous Frankenstein
portrayer
33. Like Michael Collins
34. ‘One of Miss Hannigan’s
orphans
36. ‘Russell Crowe’s Biblical role
38. of the trade
42. Bar seat
45. Type of realistic baby doll
49. ‘Pizzeria owner in “Do the
Right Thing”
51. Strings
54. Olfactory sensation
56. Avoid
57. PoetAngelou
58. Flock’s affirmation
59. Bank’s provision
60. Dry or salt
61. Brewer’s kiln
62. Great Lake
63. Retired, shortened
66. Spanish river
68. Like a wallflower
© StatcPoint Media
Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every
row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all digits 1 through 9.
SETTING THE STANDARD
ADVANCE
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PlnWL THiiitPV
SERVING GREENE &
SURROUNDING COUNTIES
FOR OVER 10 YEARS!
Iplll Pit* I'l PT.AlL.Crtd)Wy
Phoie: 706-451-1394
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tTcribiro GA JDHi
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