Nashville Man Accused of Defrauding Elderly Smithville Woman

October 3, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A 67-year-old Nashville businessman accused of financially exploiting a 74-year-old Smithville woman has been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury. He was charged with similar offenses in Williamson and Rutherford counties.

Michael David Verble, a native of Livingston raised in Hot Springs Arkansas, was indicted in July for financial exploitation of an elderly adult. Verble’s professional background is listed as having experience in the health care, financial services and insurance industries.

Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong told WJLE Tuesday that Verble took $3,500 from the Smithville woman to set up a trust account and never followed through. His bond on this charge is $10,000 and he is facing arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court. Verble is in TDOC custody in the Rutherford County jail.

The indictment alleges that “on or about October 2019, Verble did unlawfully and knowingly through the use of deception financially exploit an elderly DeKalb County woman in violation of state law.”

More than two years ago, special agents from the TBI’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division obtained indictments charging Verble with financially exploiting an elderly client in Rutherford County.

In that case, TBI began its investigation of Verble after receiving information from the Tennessee Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services. During the probe, agents determined Verble gained the confidence of an elderly client and manipulated a trust account that was established.

On August 4th, 2021 the Rutherford County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Verble with one count of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly or Vulnerable Adult and one count of Theft.

Meanwhile an earlier Williamson County Grand Jury indictment against Verble included two counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person and theft of at least $10,000 but less than $60,000 resulting from what it alleged was his commission of fraud while operating a business.

“Mr. Verble committed these frauds while operating under the business Verble Estate Preservation and Advisors,” according to a Franklin Police Department news release. “Franklin Police Detectives began investigating this case in November 2019 after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services.”

According to the Verble Estate Preservation and Advisors website at the time, the company offered financial advisement for seniors, specifically around social security payments.

“Our mission is to provide you with financial strategies that may create financial clarity and improve your quality of life. Making a strong commitment to families nearing or already enjoying retirement and building a lifelong relationship with them are tenets of our success,” the website read.

October 3, 2023
By:

The DCHS Lady Tigers’ Golf Team punched their ticket to the TSSAA Division I AA State Tournament Monday winning the Region at Tim’s Fords Bear Trace in Winchester.

The team beat five others besting Lincoln County by one stroke. The Lady Tigers were led by Alison Poss with an 87 and Chloe Boyd with an 88. Emily Anderson finished with a 117.

“We did not start well but we finished strong,” said DCHS Golf Coach John Pryor. “Our team was resilient, and the girls had to dig deep to hold off the competition”.

For the Tigers, William Blair fired an 82 to finish 17th and Bradley Hale carded a 95 to finish in 40th. They were unable to advance to the State Tournament.

The Lady Tigers will compete against seven other schools in the State Tournament in Sevierville on Monday and Tuesday.

“We play in the largest public-school division in the state so the competition will be tough, but I believe in our Lady Tigers,” said Coach Pryor.

October 3, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A city bridge replacement project is nearing completion.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, Mayor Josh Miller informed the Aldermen that the Dry Creek Road bridge over Fall Creek is expected to re-open by the end of the month.

“I just talked to Kyle Hazel, the engineer and he said the projected date is the end of this month. It will be back open. I know that has been a major inconvenience to the people who live over there in that area,” he said.

In April the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen awarded a bid for the replacement of the bridge. Most of the funds for the project came from the city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act money. Twin K. Construction of Helenwood, Tennessee was the only bidder and the aldermen accepted their bid of $630,605. In addition to the construction bid, other added costs including engineering have been or will be incurred that will possibly put the total project at more than $700,000.

The street at the site of construction has been closed since the work began forcing motorists needing to travel the street to take an alternate route.

Meanwhile, the city is moving forward with a project starting next month to install a new irrigation system for the fairways and greens at the Smithville Golf Course replacing the 56-year-old infrastructure.

In May the aldermen voted to award a bid to Oasis Irrigation of Nashville in the amount of $191,400 to provide materials, labor, and equipment to install the irrigation system for the golf course. The work includes all labor and equipment, pump installation, and gravel backfill for the cart paths. Last fall, the aldermen adopted a budget amendment ordinance in the amount of $375,000 to purchase materials for the project.

Should the city have an ordinance restricting how many dogs one may have on their property?

No such ordinance is being entertained by the city and isn’t likely to be but a concerned citizen on Kendra Drive believes there should be restrictions.

Tammy Harris of 657 Kendra Drive addressed the mayor and aldermen during the public comment period of the regular monthly meeting Monday night complaining about her neighbor having too many dogs.

“The guy next door to me has seven dogs and I am not the only one in the neighborhood that has had issues with him. I don’t understand why there cannot be an ordinance for three or four. He has seven dogs and I have to live next to that and it affects me when it’s a constant fight with him and these dogs are going off. I have called the police and they come out and he doesn’t answer the door and they say there is nothing they can do. I have to live next to that and when you have seven dogs crapping in the summer, the smell is not the best and I can’t even enjoy my back yard. I don’t understand why we can have ordinances for how many garage sales somebody can have a year but not dogs,” she said.

Mayor Miller explained that enforcement of such an ordinance would be difficult.

“You must have a way to enforce ordinances. You can put together any ordinance you want but being able to enforce it is a totally different situation”.

Harris also asked about property maintenance.

“Is there an ordinance for broken down vehicles and garbage,” asked Harris.

“Today I was walking my dogs and a group of rats the size of small cats came running out from around a truck that has been in a lady’s yard since I moved there two years ago,” she said.

“The city has a property maintenance hotline, and you can anonymously text messages with addresses and pictures of the violation,” said Mayor Miller. “That number is 615-684-4852 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for text messaging only. No one will answer that line. It is only to text a picture and address of the property you consider to be in violation. We do not have a full-time codes enforcement department to monitor this problem so we must rely on the public to report to us. When a violation has been identified, we will send out a certified letter to the landowner and once we get it back after they have signed for it, they have 10 days to get their property cleaned up or 30 days if it pertains to junked cars. After 10 days or 30 days for junked cars we will send a police officer out to look at it to make sure the property has been cleaned. If not, further action will be taken,” said Mayor Miller.

Complainants will remain anonymous, and all complaints will be investigated.

In other matters, Mayor Miller mentioned that several events are planned for downtown this month.

“Friday night, October 6 from 5-7 p.m. the local merchants are having a lot of family contests and activities, and different things will be going on at the Arts Garage”.

“This Saturday, October 7 is the Pumpkin Festival from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.”

“Next Friday, October 13 is the Habitat Chili Cook-Off and Bake Sale from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.”

“October 14 is the mobile food pantry at the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 9 a.m.”

“A Haunted History Walking Tour will be held October 26 & 28 at 6:30 p.m. each night starting at the First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center.”

“We will end the month with our annual Boo Bash October 31 from noon until 5 p.m.,” said Mayor Miller.

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