Cobb Man Convicted of Racketeering

A Dallas man will be spending the next few years in prison following his conviction on racketeering charges, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Robert Gustavus Whaley, 44, was convicted of two counts of Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Whaley, who was on probation for a charge of theft after pleading guilty to stealing laptops from a hospital where he had been a consultant, helped his girlfriend Sharron Rice hide money that she had stolen from her company, the DA’s Office said.

Rice was worked as a bookkeeper at an apartment management corporation between 2005 and 2012. She began abusing her power by cutting checks to fake vendors and depositing the money in various bank accounts, including $50,000 to an account opened by Whaley. Whaley used the money to pay bills and forwarded some of it on to a joint account he and Rice shared.

All told, Rice stole some $800,000 from her company before she was caught, the DA’s Office said.

Cobb Superior Court Judge Reuben M. Green gave Whaley a 20 year sentence with a mandatory five year stay in prison. Green also ordered Whaley to make $803,000 in restitution.

Rice was sentenced to 30 years, with eight to serve in prison, and must also make $803,000 in restitution, the DA’s Office said.