Alpharetta Teen Fastest Rubik's Cube Solver In Nation

By KEN SUGIURA http://www.ajc.com/

A trophy and some new games are not the only spoils of Andrew Kang's victory at the national championship for Rubik's Cube. There's a little dose of pop celebrity, and it doesn't hurt with the girls, either.

"Somewhat," said Kang, an Alpharetta 18-year-old, assessing how the win improves his social prospects. "Once you get to know the girl, it's a little sprinkle on top. That's it. Just a sprinkle."

Kang claimed the title of the country's fastest Rubik's Cube solver Sunday in Atlanta. At the event in Underground Atlanta, Kang won by solving the old school, six-sided puzzle five times in an average of just 12.97 seconds. That was actually an off day for Kang, who set a North American record in the semifinal round with a five-attempt average of 11.89 seconds.
Winning was a relief for Kang, who graduated from Chattahoochee High School in the spring. He was a marked man at the competition after finishing second at the world championship last October in Budapest, Hungary. Dozens of competitors came to Atlanta from across the country and even Europe to participate.

"It's just nice to show that I'm still up there and can still cube," said Kang, who typically practices about an hour a day but ramped up to five or six hours last week. Kang accommodated some autograph requests from children and even people his own age.
"It's kind of awkward," he said. "I don't know. It's just solving a puzzle."

He celebrated the triumph with sushi at his father Seok's new restaurant, Sushi Rosen in Suwanee. Kang favors the Johns Creek roll, which has cream cheese, shrimp, crab and avocado.
Kang picked up the puzzle, which gained worldwide popularity in the early '80s, about three years ago. He learned to solve the cube, which has more than 43 quintillion (43 followed by 18 zeros) possible configurations, by memorizing a set of algorithms posted on the Web and modifying them.Kang said he recognizes patterns of colors and twists the cube into other patterns until he solves it.

His modest fame is such that, over time, more than 180 people he has never met have requested to be his friend on his Facebook account. But Rubik's Cube glory only goes so far. For now, it's back to waiting tables at his father's restaurant. He plans to attend Georgia Perimeter College and transfer to Georgia Tech. "I'm still just a normal person," he said. "I just have that title."

Three Get Jail Time For Scam Against Insurance Company

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Three metro Atlantans were sentenced to federal prison late Tuesday for running a $384,000 check fraud scheme against Underwriters Safety & Claims.

Susan Denise Harper, 43, of Lithonia, Ga., was sentenced to four years in federal prison, three years of supervised release. She also was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and to pay $378,295 in restitution.

Kevian Bateman, 27, of Atlanta was sentenced to three years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service, and pay $378,295 in restitution.

Ojineka Jones Godwin, 51, of Alpharetta, Ga., was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and must pay $299,500 in restitution.

A fourth defendant, Charles Faust Jr. 52, of Atlanta, is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
Harper was employed at Underwriters Safety & Claims (US&C) as a claims adjuster and supervisor of the Property and Casualty Division. She manipulated US&C's computer system to issue checks to fraudulent payees. Her first method was to re-open an insurance claim, changing the name of the claimant to a fraudulent payee, in some instances recording false notes regarding the nature of the claim, and causing a payment to be issued. The second method involved Harper creating a fictitious claimant and corresponding documentation and then issuing a payment. The checks would be cut at US&C's headquarters and then mailed to the fraudulent payees in Georgia. Upon receipt of a check, the payee would negotiate it and Harper would get the proceeds. Harper, who holds a law degree but is not a practicing attorney, was found guilty by a federal jury after trial.

Bateman worked under Harper at US&C, and recruited others to negotiate checks. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.

Godwin negotiated 14 checks, and also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.
Faust negotiated 3 checks and also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.
The fraudulent payees were paid for their services for helping to negotiate the checks. The total loss to US&C was more than $384,000.

"Many fraud cases start with company insiders who are in a position of trust, but, as in this case, instead betray their employer and recruit others to help steal corporate cash," U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said. "These cases can be difficult to investigate, with complex money trails, but the Secret Service and Postal Inspection Service again showed their expertise in nailing down the evidence and bringing the defendants to justice."

Alpharetta Police & Firefighters Plan Community Cookout

July 16, 2008 ALPHARETTA - The public is invited to come spend the evening outside with neighbors, police officers and firefighters and enjoy a free cookout Tuesday, Aug. 5, when the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety hosts National Night Out at Wills Park.There will be K-9 police dog demonstrations, fire engines, SWAT demonstrations and more. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the snack pavilion on the equestrian side of Wills Park.More than 11,310 communities from all 50 states participated in the national event in 2007."National Night Out is an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts," said Alpharetta police officer Jennifer Howard. "We hope to raise awareness about the type of crime occurring here and generate support and participation in anti-crime efforts."National Night Out was introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch in an attempt to encourage more participation in crime watch from residents.While the traditional "lights on" and front porch vigils remain a part of National Night Out, activities have expanded over the years to include festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs and meetings.


For information, call 678-297-6309. Please RSVP at 678-297-6309, ext. 3.

Alpharetta Fixing Canton-Mayfield Intersection

by Bob Pepalis / Appen Newspapers

ALPHARETTA -- Traffic near the Windward Parkway-Ga. 9 intersection might be moving just a bit smoother this week, as an intersection improvement project added a second left turn lane from Windward south to the state highway.

A second project at the Mayfield-Canton intersection is more complex, adding turn lanes in all directions, and will take more time to complete.

On Monday, a second left turn lane opened for motorists wanting to turn left (south) onto Ga. 9 from Windward Parkway. Milling and resurfacing was followed by re striping to mark the new lanes of travel, according to John Moskaluk, the city's director of Engineering & Public Works.

Motorists in the right most left turn lane have found they need to merge left soon after the turn. Otherwise, they will be forced to turn right just after the Lowes plaza traffic light.

The additional lane was added to reduce the amount of traffic backed up on Windward Parkway.

By having contractors work during the day, the city saved up to 50 percent of the cost it would have taken to have the contractor work on the intersection at night. However, Moskaluk said the real reason was for safety. All corners of the intersection have businesses that are open late at night, with three of the four open 24 hours a day. "From a safety point of view with all the activity, I think daytime is the way to go. And that is not even a money issue -- just pure safety," he said. The project cost $148,000.

The current traffic headache may be the Canton-Mayfield intersection, but motorists will be glad to hear all four directions will have left turn lanes installed, with directional traffic lights. However, a tight fit has been designed to help slow down traffic and save as many specimen trees as possible. Each lane will be only 11 feet wide, about 1 foot narrower than normal.

"We're working closely with the contractor to have the geometry of the intersection accomplished," said Pete Sewczwicz, deputy director of Engineering & Public Works. "Georgia Power has to relocate their poles. That's the critical path."

He said the city and its contractor are working closely with Georgia Power, ATT and Comcast on utility relocations.

That intersection near the Alpharetta Library branch will cost $491,000 by the time it is completed.

Several townhome developments south on Canton cannot receive certificates of occupancy until this intersection is improved, though at least one developer has delayed his project.

State DOT Board Gets New Member From Alpharetta

By ARIEL HART www.ajc.com

Seeking to resolve another episode of turmoil at the Georgia Department of Transportation, a group of legislators Thursday unanimously elected Brandon Beach to the state Transportation Board.

Beach, of Alpharetta, is president of the Greater North Fulton chamber of commerce and a member of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Board.
Recent headlines:

He will resign from the GRTA board to take the DOT board seat.

Beach, 47, has been a restaurant owner and an Alpharetta city council member and was national sales manager for Quaker State Oil Co., which he left seven years ago.

He fills the seat of Garland Pinholster, who was the heir apparent to the board chairmanship until he resigned his vice chairmanship, and later his board seat, amid accusations of workplace sexual harassment. The department last week settled with the two accusers for a total of nearly $150,000.

Beach will serve parts of Cherokee, Cobb and Fulton counties. He represents the 6th Congressional district and was elected by state senators and representatives whose state districts fall within all or part of that district.

Beach said it is too early to say what his position on expanding passenger rail will be.
"There's a movement toward transit," in light of $4 gas, he said, but he added that "rail is expensive."
He spoke in favor of mixed-use developments where people don't have to travel so far between work, home and play."We can't continue to sprawl," he said.

Pinholster's departure followed the April resignation of DOT board chairman Mike Evans after Evans disclosed that he and DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham had become romantically involved.

Suspect In Dozens Of Car Break-Ins Arrested In Alpharetta

by Jason Wright / Appen Newspapers

July 10, 2008 ALPHARETTA -- Alpharetta police are in the process of charging a 38-year-old disbarred lawyer from Johns Creek with dozens of felonies for allegedly breaking into cars following his arrest July 8.George Gordon, a spokesman with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, said Phillip A. Strickland's car and Sandy Lane Drive home held literally hundreds of allegedly stolen items, including dozens of lap tops, at least 40 drivers' licenses and social security cards and more from at least five counties."This is an unbelievable bust," he said. "These crimes were committed over a long period of time."

Strickland was arrested after an Alpharetta police officer spotted his 1998 Ford Contour driving suspiciously on Lake Shore Landing, which is in the Windward development of Windward Parkway, said Gordon. The officer ran Strickland's tag, which didn't come up for any address in Windward.Given eight car break-ins had recently occurred in the neighborhood, the officer pulled over Strickland to ask a few questions. According to a report of the incident, he was "shaking and sweating profusely" during questioning.Gordon said the officer noticed several black bags used to hold GPS devices scattered throughout the car, along with some screwdrivers and other tools commonly used to break into cars. He arrested Strickland after finding some pills later identified as phenobarbital, a barbiturate, in an unmarked pill bottle. Strickland allegedly admitted he had no prescription for the pills.Strickland was taken to Alpharetta jail that day and charged with possession of the pills and not keeping them in their original container.

While inventorying his car, the arresting officer found five GPS devices, a laptop, a Nintendo DS 19 methadone pills, three iPods and dozens of pieces of identification. Those allegedly stolen items were used to gain a search warrant for his home the next day, and that's where Alpharetta police hit the mother load."We're trying now to get in touch with the victims," said Gordon.He said detectives have been matching the items with cases from Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Forsyth, Cherokee and Gwinnett Counties. Gordon stressed that police will contact victims and not to call Alpharetta police.Police are also looking at Strickland for charges of check fraud.According to the State Bar Association of Georgia, Strickland was disbarred by the Georgia Supreme Court in early October, 2006 after being suspended in 2004 and 2005 for allegations of taking clients' money, then never delivering any services. He also reportedly never gave back sensitive case files and failed to respond to the Bar's inquiries.

Five Charged In Atlanta Prostitue Trafficing Ring

July 07, 2008 ATLANTA --

Five men were charged in Federal Court July 7 with more than 30 counts of human trafficking and related offenses for a scheme in which women were allegedly smuggled from Mexico to become prostitutes in Atlanta.According to information revealed in court, the women did business with men from all over North Fulton, Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.

The office of U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said Mexican immigrants and Norcross residents the Cortes-Meza family -- Amador "Javier" Cortes-Meza, 34, Juan Cortes-Meza, 31, Francisco "Paco" Cortes-Meza, 25, and Raul "Oscar" Cortes-Meza, 21 -- and Edison "Caruso" W. Rosa Tort, 69, originally of Guatemala but living in Cartersville, were the suspects charged. All five face federal charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, importing women for the purpose of prostitution, and harboring and shielding aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain.

"Human trafficking violates basic human rights and will not be tolerated," said Nahmias. "Compelling women by force, fraud or coercion to engage in commercial sex acts is a serious violation of federal law."According to Nahmias and the information presented in court, the object of the conspiracy was to bring young women in from Mexico to engage in prostitution in the metropolitan Atlanta area while housed in Norcross and Cartersville. The 10 victims named in the case include three young women who allegedly were forced into commercial sex acts against their will by through force, fraud and coercion, and four victims who were under the age of 18.

"The victimization of the young women in this case was unfortunately made easier by their illegal status, unfamiliarity with U.S. laws, and fear of law enforcement instilled in them by the traffickers," said Nahmias.According to the indictment, Juan, Amador and Franciso Cortes-Meza would become the young woman's boyfriend or promise her work cleaning houses in the United States or in a restaurant in order to obtain her agreement to be smuggled into the country. They then allegedly helped smuggle her into the US.

But the honeymoon was short lived. Those three, along with Tort, allegedly physically abused the young women.Court documents show some of the victims were beaten, threatened, or faced threats to their Mexican families in order to force them to work as prostitutes against their will. It is alleged that at least one of the codefendants was always present in the home where the victims lived in order to monitor them and direct the prostitution work.Some of the victims were not allowed to leave the house unaccompanied, Nahmias said.

They frequently serviced between 20 and 30 men a night, charging $25, some of which went to the drivers who transported the young women to the "johns." The majority of the money earned was kept by the alleged traffickers.

"These victims were lured from their homes with a promise of a better life; instead, they were forced or coerced into prostitution," said Kenneth A. Smith, Special Agent in Charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Atlanta.All five defendants face substantive charges of sex trafficking, with Juan, Amador and Raul Cortes-Meza charged specifically with sex trafficking of minors and smuggling aliens into the United States.Rosa Tort and Raul Cortes-Meza are charged with driving the women to various places where men or "johns" were willing to pay for sex with them.

Nahmias said the victims' immigration status has no bearing on the case, and urges any other victims to come forward."Federal laws protect all victims of such heinous crimes, whether or not they are United States citizens," said Nahmias. "No victim should fear coming forward to report illegal activity and criminal abuse."