NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — Church members are scrambling to save their church after they say a man posing as an attorney who would help them with their mortgage issues stole their money.
"I'm standing at the podium and they just said, 'hit the floor,' and said, 'everybody down,' and I was like, 'I hit the floor, too,'" said Pastor Richard Murphy of the United Praise Baptist Church in Newton County.
Newton County sheriff's deputies arrested 49-year-old Derrick Middlebrooks at United Praise Baptist Church. He is facing charges including unauthorized practice of law and theft by deception.
Murphy said his church needed an attorney to deal with mortgage issues. Another church member referred them to Middlebrooks.
"He told us we don't have to worry, everything is handled," said Bishop William Smith.
The church paid him about $1,000.
But when Middlebrooks didn't show up for a court date, members got suspicious.
"They hit his name on the computer, on cellphone, some kind of way, they said, 'oh my God,'" said Murphy.
Not only did they discover Middlebrooks was a convicted felon, but he was also wanted for a parole violation.
"There is so many people out there that is trying to scam their way through life and they don't care who they scam. And the church is no different than anyone else," said Charlene Butler, a church member.
Murphy said he contacted the Newton County Sheriff's Office and they aided officers with their investigation.
"I feel this church has done a great service to the state of Georgia, getting this guy off the street," Murphy said. "When folks call this church and say they need help, we respond. Now the church needs help and we are praying there is somebody out there, Christ, that will come and help us."
Janet Riggi said Middlebrooks also scammed her after she hired him when a family member got into legal trouble.
"I was just devastated. I thought, 'Oh my god, I got scammed.' (I'm) 58-years-old, never had anything happen like this," said Riggi, who lives in Jonesboro. "I don't think anyone was paying attention to this one, and he probably scammed a lot of people. Sad, sad situation."
A spokesperson for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles told Channel 2 Action News, "We can't give specifics regarding supervision of individual offenders. But, generally, a parolee must have face-to-face contact (with a probation officer) to make sure the offender is abiding by the conditions of their parole."
The state also took out a warrant for Middlebrooks for a probation violation on Aug. 25 and had been searching for him since then. He was arrested by Newton County deputies in October.
WSBTV
