ALABAMA SECURITIES COMMISSION
770 WASHINGTON AVE, SUITE 570
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36130-4700
Telephone: (334) 242-2984 or 1-800-222-1253. Fax:
(334) 242-0240
Email: asc@asc.state.al.us. Website:
www.asc.state.al.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA (January
14, 2004) - Honorable Joseph P. Borg, Director of the Alabama Securities
Commission announced today that Kelly Vickers, a local attorney from Montgomery,
Alabama was sentenced today by the Honorable Rhonda Jones Hardesty, 19th
Judicial District Court, Clanton, Alabama.
Vickers had pled guilty, July 24, 2003, to one count of theft of
property in the third degree as a result of
charges surrounding financial activities involving the proposed expansion of
the former Daystar Assembly of God located in Prattville, Alabama.
Vickers was sentenced to 365
days in the county jail suspended and placed on 2 years probation, ordered to
pay $25,000 in restitution to victims, fined $2,000, ordered to pay a $1,000 assessment
to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation fund, ordered to report to Court
Referral and ordered to conduct 100 hours of community service.
Borg said, “Justice has been
served now that the last of nine defendants in this case have been
sentenced. The result of this case is a
prime example of the high level of cooperation among the Prattville Police
Department, County, and State legal authorities to work together and take
strong actions against white collar crime and people who steal from members of
their own community.”
Mark Steven Cooper, April Sunday Rutledge Cooper, Nancilu
Carpenter, Donald Cayton, Leonard Miller, William Till, Elaine Jenkins Turner
and David Wayne Gordan were sentenced by the Honorable Ben Fuller, Circuit
Judge for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, as a result of charges surrounding
financial activities involving the proposed expansion of the former Daystar
Assembly of God located in Prattville, Alabama. For a detailed background of the Daystar case previous news
releases may be viewed at: http://www.asc.state.al.us/Current-News.htm
.
The Alabama Securities
Commission Enforcement Division opened its investigation in the Daystar matter
in July, 2001. The investigation
revealed the alleged misappropriation of funds raised by Daystar Assembly of
God Church in the sale of certificates of deposit and loans proceeds for
development of the church by Mark Stephen Cooper, Elaine Jenkins Turner, Donald
Cayton, Leonard Miller, William Till, April Sunday Rutledge Cooper and Kelly
Vickers. The investigation further
showed alleged fraud perpetrated by these individuals as well as Nancilu
Carpenter against local banks
and lending institutions. Finally, the
investigation revealed alleged violations of the Alabama Securities Act and
Theft of Property in the 1st Degree from the sale of promissory notes of a company
called Qtrex by Elaine Turner and David Wayne Gordon. Total loss from all of these alleged acts is approximately $3
million dollars.
The Director of the Alabama
Securities Commission (ASC) cautions potential investors to thoroughly check
out any investment opportunity. Contact
ASC for inquiries regarding securities broker-dealers, agents, investment
advisors, investment advisor representatives, financial planners, the
registration status of securities, to report suspected fraud, or obtain
consumer information:
ALABAMA SECURITIES COMMISSION
770 WASHINGTON AVE, SUITE 570
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36130-4700
Telephone: (334) 242-2984 or 1-800-222-1253. Fax:
(334) 242-0240
Email: asc@asc.state.al.us. Website:
www.asc.state.al.us
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If you have questions contact: Daniel G. Lord, Education and Public Affairs Manager