Nine people have been arrested in connection with a North Georgia title fraud scheme that was reportedly operating out of Gainesville.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement Monday afternoon, saying the investigation into the scheme started in June of 2025. The scheme reportedly involved two women, identified as Brandy Marie Pitts, age 46 of Lavonia, and Susan Faye Palencia, age 61 of Homer, issuing improper vehicle registrations to unlicensed residents.
“The investigation determined local car dealers would sell older-model, high-mileage vehicles at elevated prices to unlicensed residents. Because an unlicensed person cannot legally register a vehicle, sales personnel at the dealerships would direct the customers to Pitts and Palencia, who would charge the customers hundreds of dollars to register the vehicles under their corporation names,” the sheriff’s office said. “In addition, they would urge the drivers to obtain insurance through America Insurance Agency, a company the women owned.”
The sheriff’s office said Pitts and Palencia improperly registered hundreds of vehicles, conducting the alleged activities since 2018, and illegally obtaining over a million dollars…