An FBI agent testified Monday that several people "could have been charged" in an allegedly fraudulent land deal in Dade County, Ga., but he said "our evidence led to the two individuals here."
Agt. Stan Ruffin was the final government witness in the case in which Josh Dobson and Paul Gott face money laundering and wire fraud counts.
Another principal in the development at The Preserve, Travis Lamar Shields, testified for the defense. He is the brother-in-law of Josh Dobson and son-in-law of Tommy Dobson. He said the three of them were the main officials of the Southern Group.
Gott was identified as an independent contractor who set up loans to finance purchase of lots at the Rising Fawn site.
Travis Shields, who is involved in a bankruptcy on the development, said he began surveying for Tommy Dobson in 1996. He said they eventually began some small developments and that Josh Dobson eventually joined the team.
He said at one time they had about 13 projects going, including some in Grundy County, Marion County and in Jackson County, Ala. He said there were about 55 employees.
He said Josh Dobson was mainly involved in sales, but did not take part in the closings.
Asked about a $67,000 check that prosecutors say was sent from the Southern Group as a down payment to a minister who bought one of the lots, he said it was not a down payment but money toward a "buy-back option."
The first defense witness was Christie Dobson, wife of Josh Dobson. She said FBI Agt. Ruffin and IRS Agt. Scott Kennedy showed up at their home in Marion County early one morning. She said she called her husband and he soon returned from the gym.
She said the two agents spoke with her husband for some four hours, and she said it grew loud near the end. She said she tried to shield their young son and daughter from the conversation.
Ms. Dobson, who is a fourth grade teacher, said, "The kids were questioning whose these people were in suits."
Larry Ziegler, principal at Marion County High School, said he worked for the Southern Group from July 2007 to the spring of 2009, mainly keeping up with the inventory of lots.
He said Rod Bradley was the finance officer and handled checks - moreso than Josh Dobson.