Marietta Man Cleared in $3 Million Theft Case

Nearly a month after the state's high court partially reversed a Cobb County court’s judgment against a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and two lawyers charged with conspiring to steal more than $3 million from Gaston Glock and his companies, including gun manufacturer Glock Inc., new Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds late Wednesday dismissed all criminal charges against the trio.

According to the Fulton County Daily Report, Reynolds late Wednesday dismissed a 3-year-old indictment against James R. Harper III, Atlanta attorney Jeff Pombert and Marietta resident Jerry Chapman.

Harper, a former Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, was hired in 2000 by Gaston Glock to investigate allegations of theft. Harper hired Chapman and Pombert to assist him.

According to a Jan. 22, 2010, indictment, Harper, Chapman and Pombert allegedly conspired to steal more than $3 million from Glock and his companies from 2001 to 2007 through a pattern of racketeering activity, which is a violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act.

Harper and Pombert were accused of billing Gaston Glock for services not rendered and overbilling for other services. Harper’s attorney said repeatedly that the fees were legitimate.

The Supreme Court of Georgia, in a 4-1 decision on Feb. 18, sent the case back to Cobb and ordered it to determine prior to trial whether the statute of limitations had already expired, which would bar prosecution of any of the 11 counts contained in the indictment.

A review of the case by Reynolds' white-collar crime prosecutor prompted him to drop the charges, according to the Daily Report.

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