Following a six-month investigation initiated by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), nine suspects have been indicted and arrested in connection with an alleged million-dollar north Georgia title fraud scheme. Including the sheriff’s office, 13 local, state, and national agencies were involved in the investigation.
“In June 2025, the sheriff’s office learned of ongoing title fraud being committed by Brandy Marie Pitts, 46, of Lavonia and Susan Faye Palencia, 61, of Homer,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman B.J. Williams said. “Both women owned several LLCs operating out of office space in Gainesville.” In addition, Williams added, “Several car dealers in Hall County colluded with Pitts and Palencia to commit the crimes.”
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.
In addition, they would urge the drivers to obtain insurance through America Insurance
Agency, a company the women owned. Hundreds of vehicles were registered under various
companies, all of which were owned by Pitts and Palencia. The investigation determined the pair
had conducted the activities since 2018, illegally obtaining more than one million dollars over the
seven-year period.
The suspects, men and women, range in age from 36 to 61.
HCSO NEWS RELEASE:
“In December…the Hall County District Attorney’s Office indicted nine suspects, including Pitts
and Palencia, for violation of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Arrest orders were issued on Dec. 19…and all suspects, listed below, have since been formally
booked at the Hall County Jail.
Brandy Marie Pitts, 46, Lavonia
Susan Faye Palencia, 61, Homer
Manuel Rene Alvarez, 51, Gainesville
Curtis Allen Livingston, 51, Suwanee
Scott Wedford Norris, 36, Marietta
Maria D. Escamilla, 47, Flowery Branch
Vianney Garcia Guerrero, 36, Buford
Lindsey Ngu, 25, Gainesville
Juan Camilo Sardi, 27, Gainesville
All suspects, with the exception of Ms. Ngu, posted bond and have been released from custody. Ms.
Ngu remains in the Hall County Jail on a drug court “hold.”
In addition to the Hall County District Attorney’s Office and sheriff’s office, these agencies were involved in the investigation: the Hall County Tax Commissioner’s Office,
the Flowery Branch Police Department, the Gainesville Police Department, the Banks County
Sheriff’s Office, the Lavonia Police Department, the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, the Rabun County
Tax Commissioner’s Office, the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance & Fire Safety, the
Georgia Department of Revenue, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office and the National Insurance
Crime Bureau.”