Forsyth Father, Son Sent to Prison for Defrauding Elderly Woman

By Justin Ove

A pair of Forsyth County men have been sentenced to prison for exploiting an elderly East Cobb woman and her family to steal the woman’s fortune, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Jeffrey Carr, of Gainesville, received a sentence of 40 years, 10 of which must be served in prison. He was also ordered to repay $3.4 million to the 93-year-old victim.

Jeffrey’s father Joseph received a sentence of 40 years, two of which must be served behind bars. He must repay $363,000 to the victim.

Both were convicted by a Cobb County jury last week on three counts of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for stealing more than $4 million over a period of several years.

Jeffrey Carr, now 41, met Linda Perkins, one of the daughters of 93-year-old Frances Perkins in 2009. According to the DA’s Office, Linda eventually gave Carr $500,000. Carr then became friendly with Frances Perkins and took advantage of her mental state and the difficult relations between her two daughters for his own financial gain.

Carr was given financial power of attorney over the elder Perkins in September of 2011 and began receiving checks for thousands of dollars from her, the DA’s Office said. In 2012, Carr was responsible for the sale of property Perkins and her late husband owned at 542 Johnson Ferry Road and received 20 percent of the sale price, some $700,000.

According to the DA’s Office, after Frances Perkins was injured after a fall, Carr had her relocated to care facilities near Gainesville. When Adult protective Services came to Gainesville to interview her, Carr quickly moved her into his parents’ home. After the incident, Frances Perkins wrote a check to Joseph Carr, Jeffrey’s father, for $375,000.

The Carrs were arrested on May 7, 2013, and charged with exploiting the elderly and other charges related to the thefts. A forensic accountant later determined that the Carrs stole $4.1 million from Perkins, the DA’s Office said.

“So often in these cases, there’s a tendency for some people to say, ‘It’s just theft.’ This is a financial abuse case. Carr and Carr abused the trust of an elderly lady who was starting to go, mentally,” Deputy Chief ADA John Melvin said during the Tuesday sentencing hearing. “We cannot allow this in Cobb County.”

-- In order: Jeffrey Carr, Joseph Carr Credit: Cobb County Sheriff’s Office