Lawson v. State

Birdsong, Presiding Judge.

Joseph Lawson was indicted on 30 counts of “white collar” crime, involving multiple transactions of large purchases and shipments of computer equipment paid for by checks which appellant forged as “certified” checks of banking institutions, including one check for $21,000. He pleaded nolo contendere to one count of issuing a bad check, two counts of forgery, and six counts of theft by taking. The trial court reduced his sentences to time served and a probated sentence of ten years under the First Offender Act, OCGA § 42-8-60, and ordered him to pay $1,650…