About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2018)
LOCA^STATE The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Thursday, November 29, 2018 11A Iranian hackers charged in US ransom ware scheme BY MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press WASHINGTON - Two Iranian computer hackers were charged Wednesday in connection with a multimillion-dollar cybercrime and extortion scheme that tar geted government agencies, cities and businesses, the Justice Depart ment said. Faramarz Shahi Savandi, 34, and Mohammad Mehdi Shah Man- souri, 27, are accused of creating ransomware known as SamSam that encrypted data on the com puters of more than 200 victims, including the cities of Atlanta and Newark, New Jersey. Starting in January 2016, the hackers were able to exploit cyber weaknesses, gain access to the victims’ computers and install the ransomware remotely, prosecu tors said. The hackers would then allegedly encrypt the files on the computers and demand that the victims pay a ransom in bitcoin in order to have their data unlocked. The hackers, who are not believed to be connected to the Iranian government, were able to make about $6M and caused the victims of the scheme to lose more than $30M, prosecutors said. Other victims included the Colorado Department of Trans portation, the Port of San Diego and six health care companies across the U.S., according to the Justice Department. “SamSam ransomware is a dangerous escalation of cybercrime,” said Craig Carpenito, the U.S. attor ney for New Jersey, where Wednesday’s indictment was unsealed. “This is a new type of cybercriminal. Money is not their sole objective. They are seek ing to harm our institutions and our critical infrastructure.” The Justice Department would not say whether any of the municipalities paid the ransom. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in April that Atlanta entered into emer gency contracts worth $2.7 million to help restore the city’s computer network after the attack. The hacking scheme was sophisticated not only because it targeted public institutions but because the hackers targeted the entities after business hours and used European-based serv ers to launch the remote attacks, Carpenito said. The two men remained fugitives and were believed to be in Iran. Although the U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with Iran, the Jus tice Department expressed some confidence the men may one day face the inside of a U.S. courtroom. “American justice has a long arm and we will wait and eventu ally we’re confident that we will take these perpetrators into cus tody,” Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosentein said. Rosentein COLUMBIA, S.C. Governor wins court fight in Santee Cooper leader dispute BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has the authority to temporarily appoint a new chairman of the board for a state-owned utility without the Legisla ture’s permission whenever lawmakers aren’t in session, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. McMaster and the state Senate clashed over the governor’s pick of Attorney General Charlie Condon to be chairman of Santee Coo per in March. Senators didn’t vote on the appointment before leaving Columbia in June — some felt it was an inten tional snub — so McMaster used his recess appointment power to seat Condon directly on the board in July. Senators argued to the justices that the chair man position came open in December 2017 so McMas- ter’s power to appoint with out Senate approval ended days later when lawmakers came back in January. But in Tuesday’s ruling, the justices said McMas- ter’s power is valid any time there is an opening. The only check is if the Senate rejects the governor’s appointment when they return to session, he can’t appoint the same person again after they adjourn. The justices also sug gested the Senate had no legal basis to sue the gover nor in this case at all. Repub lican Senate President Pro Tern Hugh Leatherman of Florence did not get the approval of the entire Sen ate before filing the suit, but the justices said they could not consider that matter because McMaster’s law yers did not bring it up. The ruling was unani mous and signed by all the justices. McMaster wants to sell Santee Cooper because the state-owned utility is about $8 billion in debt. About half the money went to design and early construction work on a pair of nuclear reac tors which never produced power. Santee Cooper was the minority partner in the deal with privately owned SCANA Corp. and its subsid iary South Carolina Electric & Gas. A committee of sena tors and House members are currently seeking bids for the state utility. Santee Cooper can’t be sold with out the General Assembly’s approval. Condon will lead with transparency and account ability during a critical time for Santee Cooper, McMas ter said in a statement after the ruling. “It is critical that we have a steady hand at the helm while we determine the best path forward for Santee Coo per and its customers, and the Supreme Court’s ruling ensures that we will have just that,” the governor said. AROUND THE SOUTHEAST SAVANNAH Police: Child fatally shot on Thanksgiving Police say a 9-year-old boy has been fatally shot by an adult relative. Savannah police spokeswoman Bianca Johnson tells the Savannah Morning News that Gabriel Early was mortally wounded on Thanks giving day and died at a hospital. She says police determined he was shot by a relative, and there was no apparent malicious intent. She says the relative has not been arrested, but the case will be presented to a Chatham County grand jury. ROBERTA Police: Student says gun protection from dog Police say an 18-year-old student brought a gun to his high school and told officers it was for protection from an aggressive neighborhood dog. Roberta Police Chief Ty B. Mat thews tells The Telegraph that Terry Knolton was arrested Tues day and charged with having a gun on school grounds. It was Knolton’s grandmother who alerted authorities when she discovered the .25 caliber handgun was missing. Matthews says Knolton told offi cers he took the gun because he was “going to do something” about the dog, and didn’t mean to bring it to school. The chief says no dog was shot. Crawford County School Super intendent Brent Lowe says Knolton was suspended. ATLANTA 16 US Postal Service workers took bribes to deliver cocaine Prosecutors say 16 U.S. Postal Service workers in the Atlanta area have been sentenced to fed eral prison for accepting bribes to deliver cocaine. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution cites a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia in a Wednesday report. The office’s statement says some workers took bribes as small as $250 and that each was ordered to serve sentences between three and nine years. Prosecutors say federal agents learned about the postal workers in 2015 while investigating a drug trafficking organization in Atlanta. They say traffickers believed the workers were less likely to be caught by authorities. To apprehend the 16 people, agents had posed as traffickers seeking postal employees while law enforcement officials recorded the interactions. FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA Bogus college softball coach convicted of trying to make child porn An Alabama man pretending to be a college softball coach has been convicted in Florida of trying to make child porn. Court records show 42-year-old Jason Ford pleaded guilty in Fort Lauderdale federal court last week to attempting to produce child por nography. His sentencing is sched uled for Feb. 1. Court records show that Ford had been working as a teaching assistant and travel softball coach in Dothan, Alabama, when he pre tended to be a University of North Florida and University of South Carolina softball coach to have con tact with female high school soft- ball players. Authorities say Ford engaged in inappropriate conver sations with teens in Florida, Ala bama and Tennessee. Records show Ford was arrested after sending money for a sexually explicit video to an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old girl. Associated Press OBITUARIES Marion “Rob” Roberts Aug. 28, 1942-Nov. 23, 2018 Marion Emery Roberts, 76, of Gaines ville, Ga., passed away Friday, Nov. 23,2018, while taking care of his sis ter in Arizona. Rob, as he was known to many, was born in Los Angeles, Calif., but spent his youth in Bellevue, Iowa. His parents called him Buzzy, because he was always buzzing around, and after graduating from high school he went off to see the world by join ing the Navy, like most young men at that time. He served in the Vietnam War as an HN2, but it wasn’t until later in life that he felt proud enough to share his story. After six years he was honorably discharged, went back home to Iowa with his family and earned his degree as a Medical Technolo gist. He worked for a time for the state in Washington, D.C., and again in Iowa as a Lab Manager in Dubuque. Rob finally ended up transferring to a job in Tucker, Ga., where he stayed until retirement. He met the love of his life, Charlene, whom his dad, Ralph, nicknamed “Chaz,” asked her to dance and they have been dancing through life ever since. Rob spent his retire ment working on his extensive “Honey-do list” from Chaz and helping others. He loved his church and was a Deacon at the First United Presbyterian Church. He was hon ored and humored at that title bestowed on a man such as himself. On Thursday you could find him without fail at The Good News at Noon program. He would drive to pick up the food, cook and helped serve the homeless, who were very dear to his heart. Rob was a member of the American Legion and he was proud to be a veteran of his country. He loved living on the lake and fishing with his friends the North Georgia Crappy Anglers. However, what happened while fishing, bet ter not get back to the wives. Grandpa Rob adored his grandkids and all else fell away when they were around. He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Charlene (Chaz); son Steve (Wanda) Rob erts; daughter Jennifer Crumback; son Roger (Anna) Chapman; daughter Kelly (Mark) Maatman; sister Becky (Mike) Hale; nine grandchildren; and many other special friends and family members. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, at The First Pres byterian Church, Gainesville, Ga. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contribu tions be made to the American Legion Post 7 in Gainesville, Ga., or the Brookeshire Reunion Fund C/O Barbara and Tommy Gray, 2410 Roswell Ave., Suite 101, Char lotte, NC 28209. Online condolences can be made at www. memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. Memo rial Park North Riverside Chapel is handling the local arrangements. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, Gainesville Sign the online guest book at gainesvilletimes.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Nov. 29, 2018 DEATH NOTICES Mary Barksdale Died Nov. 27, 2018 Mary Barksdale, 85, of Winder died Tues day. Wimberly & White Funeral Home, Commerce. Claudine Burns Died Nov. 27, 2018 Claudine Burns, 91, of Loganville died Tuesday. Graveside service, 12:30 p.m. Sat urday, Dec. 1, Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville. Muriel Cannon Died Oct. 19, 2018 Muriel Cannon, 96, died Oct. 19. Memo rial service, 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, funeral home. McDonald and Son Funeral Home, Cumming. Joan Lee Siler Canup July 3, 1939-Sept. 26, 2018 Joan Lee Siler “Sam” Canup, 79, died Sept. 26. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia. Carlos Cobb Died Nov. 28, 2018 Carlos Cobb, 32, of Gainesville died Wednesday. Wimberly Funeral Home, Gainesville. Christopher John Corless June 28, 1979-Nov. 27, 2018 Christopher John Corless, 39, of Gaines ville died Tuesday. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch. Timothy Feathers Died Nov. 27, 2018 Timothy Feathers, 57, of Hoschton died Tuesday. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Satur day, Dec. 1, funeral home. Memorial Park Funeral Home Braselton Chapel, Braselton. Werner Goeckel Died Nov. 17,2018 Werner Goeckel died Nov. 17. Memorial service, 2-5 p.m. Dec. 8, The Venue at Christ Place Church. Memorial Park Funeral Home Braselton Chapel, Braselton. Dennis Edward Grant Died Nov. 27, 2018 Dennis Edward Grant, 71, of Gainesville died Tuesday. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Fri day, Nov. 30, funeral home chapel. Memo rial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville. Donald Charles Heber Died Nov. 24, 2018 Donald Charles Heber, 83, of Cumming died Nov. 24. McDonald and Son Funeral Home, Cumming. Maria lonescu Died Nov. 19, 2018 Maria lonescu, 82, of Lilburn died Nov. 19. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, funeral home. Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford. Guy Andrew Vanpool Sr. Died Nov. 25, 2018 Guy Andrew Vanpool Sr., 65, of Hoschton died Nov. 25. Memorial service, 1 p.m. Sun day, Dec. 2, funeral home. Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford. Pilan Jones Died Nov. 27, 2018 Pilan Jones, 42, of Gainesville died Tues day. Wimberly Funeral Home, Gainesville. Mitchell Morton Jan. 10, 1963-Nov. 24, 2018 Mitchell Morton, 55, of Statham died Nov. 24. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, funeral home chapel. Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford. Benjamin Sims Died Nov. 22, 2018 Benjamin Sims, 54, of Gainesville died Nov. 22. Wimberly Funeral Home, Gainesville. Eugenia A. Parker Aug. 25, 1926-Nov. 8, 2018 Eugenia A. Parker, 92, of Braselton died Nov. 8. Memorial service, 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, funeral home. Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford. Tyler Parsons Died Nov. 26, 2018 Tyler Parsons, 25, of Oakwood died Mon day. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, funeral home chapel. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson. Richard Gordon Shumake Died Nov. 28, 2018 Richard Gordon Shumake, 54, of Comer died Wednesday. Memorial service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, funeral home chapel. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson. Monica Thomas Died Nov. 21,2018 Monica Thomas, 38, of Gainesville died Nov. 21. Memorial service, 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, Fountain of Hope Ministry. Wim berly Funeral Home, Gainesville. Obituary information Death notices are printed free as a public service by The Times. More information can be provided in paid obituaries. The rate is $50 per 100 words (or any part thereof). There is an additional mandatory $40 fee for online services, which includes a guest book that allows family and friends to post condolences. Deadline for publication is 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Death notices and obituaries are accepted only from funeral homes. They should be emailed to obits@ gainesvilletimes.com. All submissions will appear in The Times and online at gainesvilletimes.com. For additional information, please call 770-718-3435 or 800-395-5005, extension 3435, between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays. INTRODUCING Little & Davenport Funeral Home To inquire about pricing packages available to memorialize a pet in print, please contact Megan Lewis at 770-535-6371 or mlewis@gainesvilletimes.com Pets at Peace will appear in The Times the last Sunday of each month.
