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November 6, 2009

Former Polk County deputy sheriff enters guilty plea

Submitted by the U.S. attorney's office

ROME — Kenneth Lane Gravett, 42, of Cedartown, a former feputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to mail fraud relating to the submitting of a false insurance claim on a motorcycle.

According to Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2008, Gravett was a Deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department. Gravett fell behind on making monthly loan payments on his Harley Davidson motorcycle.  He then conspired with another individual to make it appear that the motorcycle was stolen, so that he could file a fraudulent insurance claim on the alleged theft of the motorcycle and use the insurance proceeds to pay off the delinquent loan. 

In early December 2008, the other individual by arrangement with Gravett took the motorcycle from Gravett’s garage.  On December 3, 2008, Gravett falsely reported to his own Polk County Sheriff’s Office that his motorcycle was stolen from his garage. On December 4, 2008, the other individual sold Gravett’s motorcycle to an FBI informant for $1500. On December 6, 2008, Gravett orally reported  to his insurance carrier that his motorcycle had been stolen.  On February 9, 2009, Gravett using the false police report filed a fraudulent insurance claim with his insurer seeking to recover the value of the motorcycle.   

Gravett pleaded guilty to a Criminal Information charging one count of mail fraud. Based upon his guilty plea, he will not be able to obtain employment as a law enforcement officer. He could receive a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2010, at 10 a.m., before United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney William L. McKinnon, Jr. is prosecuting the case.

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