New Market man gets prison for defrauding Florida school

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida college administrator has been sentenced to one year and three months in federal prison for defrauding the school out of $155,000 during a website redesign project.

Brian Carroll, 47, of New Market, Tennessee, was sentenced Monday in Tampa federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in January to felony wire fraud. Carroll must also forfeit proceeds from the crime and pay restitution.

According to court documents, Carroll was serving as the executive vice president of Southeastern University in 2016 when he became involved in a project to redesign the website and digital brand of the university’s President. The private university is located in Lakeland, Florida, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Tampa.

Carroll set up an anonymous limited liability company based in New Mexico without the knowledge of other Southeastern University officials and then used that company to bid to the university to perform the web rebranding project for a total price of $185,000, prosecutors said. The school accepted the bid with Carroll’s recommendation, and the university made five payments to Carroll’s company over several months in late 2016, officials said.

Unbeknownst to university officials, Carroll’s company contracted with an unrelated New York-based company to do the actual work on the project for just $30,000, leaving Carroll with the remaining $155,000, investigators said.

A sealed indictment was returned against Carroll in August 2021, and he was arrested three months later.

THP to conduct sobriety checkpoint in Hamblen

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting roadside safety checkpoints during the week of May 7 on State Routes 340 and 66 in Hamblen County.

Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 others every year in the United States.

Troopers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment.

Troopers will also target those who operate a vehicle with impaired and take corrective actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists.

The THP recognizes that sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools in the battle against impaired driving.

UETHDA Announces Energy and Water Assistance Outreach for May

The Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency’s Outreach RV will be throughout the Lakeway Area in May helping those needing assistance with their energy and water bills.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps with energy bills, while the Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program helps with water bills. These programs help keep individuals and families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist with energy and water bill expenses. For those who qualify, a payment is sent directly to the recipient’s utility company and is credited to their bill. If you qualify for one program you likely qualify for both. Payments may take up to 90 days to be applied. Priority is given to the low-income, energy burdened, disabled, elderly, homes with young children under 6, veterans, and large households.

The LIHWAP program will be available until the end of September for most water utilities in our region. The following are the locations where we will be in May:

Monday, May 1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Church Hill Water Department, located at 523 West Main Boulevard in Church Hill

Friday-Sunday May 5-7, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Food City, located at 905 Snapps Ferry Road in Greeneville

Tuesday, May 9, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Church Hill Medical Mission, located at 401 Richmond Street

Thursday, May 11, 8 a.m., Jubilee Project Miles for Smiles, located at 197 Jockey Street in Sneedville

Tuesday, May 16, 10:15 a.m., Rader McCravy, located at 200 North VFW Road in Bulls Gap

Tuesday, May 16, 12:30 p.m., The Shepherd’s Center/Of One Accord Ministry, 306 East Main Street in Rogersville

Tuesday, May 23, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Food City, located at 731 U.S. Highway 11W in Church Hill

You may also visit one of UETHDA’s 9 area neighborhood service centers, located in their 8 county service area, for aid, or simply call 423-246-6180. LIHEAP is only one of many services the agency offers to help with self-sufficiency.