Archived News

Decatur businessmen sentenced to prison for fraud

Brothers Rhett Maughon, 49, and Marcus Maughon, 47, of Decatur, were among three people sentenced Feb. 23 to serve time in federal prison on charges of tax and immigration fraud.

U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said their business, the Atlanta Meat Company, cut legal corners by hiring undocumented workers and evading federal taxes.

Yates said from early 2001 until June 2006, the Maughons and co-owner Rafael Villareal of Suwanee did not record all the cash received on the company’s books and instead used the cash paid by their customers to pay themselves and the company’s employees.

Officials said the employees who were paid entirely in cash were undocumented workers who lacked authorization to work legally in the United States.

Marcus Maughon was sentenced to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Rhett Maughon and Villiareal were sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.       

Pine Lake to hold annual chili cook off

The Pine Lake Association of Involved Neighbors will hold a chili cook off on Feb. 25.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Pine Lake Beach House and the competition is split into three categories: Best Chili, Best Veggie Chili and Best Soup.

Attendees are encouraged to bring along a dish of their best chili or soup and an empty muffin pan to hold sample cups for the food.

Those who bring a dish get to sample the food for free, or admission is $5.