Smithville Car Dealer under Federal Indictment for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

October 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville businessman is among three people indicted by a federal grand jury in what the Department of Justice is calling a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud a used car auction in Murfreesboro.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Jerry W. Hutchins, 48, of Dowelltown; Stephanie Louise Baker, 53, of Mount Juliet, and Brian Baker, 52, of Mount Juliet for wire fraud and money laundering.

All three surrendered to federal agents on Friday and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate that same day, the DOJ said.

Both Stephanie and Brian Baker, who are married, and Hutchins have been charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy along with substantive offenses for acts of money laundering.

The DOJ said the trio defrauded Dealers Auto Auction Group of more than $2 million.

“According to the indictment, between February 2017 and November 2018, Stephanie Baker was the General Manager of the Dealers Auto Auction Group’s Murfreesboro auction location. Brian Baker and Jerry Hutchins each owned and operated used car dealerships and did business at the auction. The defendants devised a scheme to defraud Dealers Auto Auction Group, LLC by creating fake transactions to make it appear that the defendants’ businesses had sold cars at the auction and were entitled to receive funds from Dealers Auto Auction Group, when in fact the defendants had not sold vehicles at the auction,” ,” the DOJ said. “Based on the fake transactions, Stephanie Baker caused Dealers Auto Auction Group to issue checks to Brian Baker’s and Hutchins’ businesses. Then, monthly, the defendants would create additional fake transactions using the same vehicles in order to conceal the original fraud and avoid detection. Brian Baker and Hutchins then converted proceeds of the fraud scheme for their own personal use and benefit.”

If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy, the money laundering conspiracy, and the concealment money laundering offenses, and up to 10 years in prison for money laundering.  The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation in which the government seeks to forfeit any property derived from the proceeds of the crimes, including a money judgment in the amount of at least $2,041.170 from Stephanie Baker, $1,357,310 from Brian Baker, and $683,830 from Jerry Hutchins.

This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Suedekum is prosecuting the case.

Hutchins owns and operates Hutchins Auto Sales and Service in Smithville. He is also a former Smithville Police Department Investigator.

October 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Three people were airlifted from a serious head-on crash Sunday night on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway) near Cecil Hale Road.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 2013 blue Ford Fusion, driven by 35-year-old Julio Cesar Bernardo Carbaja was traveling southbound on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Road) near Cecil Hale Road when it crossed the center line into the northbound lane into the path of a 2008 silver Nissan Altima, driven by 51-year-old Virginia Werta causing both vehicles to hit head-on. The driver of the Ford Fusion, Carbaja was believed to have been impaired. The three occupants of the Nissan, Werta, 48-year-old Jesus Jantes, and a 14-year-old were airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. All three in the Nissan were wearing their seatbelts. Carbaja was also injured. He was not wearing his seatbelt. Carbaja has been charged with three counts of vehicular assault, DUI, and driving on a suspended license.

October 23, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Health Department will participate in the statewide Fight Flu ’23 effort on Nov. 1, 2023, and provide free flu shots to all Tennesseans who are eligible, six-months and older.

‘’We want to protect as many people as we can in our communities from the flu,” County Director, Michael Railling, MPH, CPH said. “Getting an annual flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and everyone around you.”

DeKalb County Health Department will provide free flu shots on Nov. 1, 2023, at the DeKalb County Health Department, 254 Tiger Drive, Smithville, from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

An appointment is not needed to receive a free flu vaccine at the DeKalb County Health Department’s Fight Flu ’23 event.

Also, the flu vaccine will remain free to anyone eligible to receive it at all local health departments across the state throughout flu season.

The flu vaccine is safe and effective and can protect individuals against the most common types of flu, and the virus’s worst symptoms and outcomes.

The flu virus is very contagious. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions are at the highest risk of severe complications from the flu. Annually, more than 7.5 million illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths could be prevented in the U.S. if more people chose to get the flu vaccine.

To prevent spreading the flu virus to others, follow precautions such as proper hygiene and handwashing, cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and stay home if you are sick.

For more information about the flu virus and Fight Flu ‘23, visit tn.gov/health/fightflu. For information about getting a free flu shot, contact the DeKalb County Health Department at 615-597-7599.

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