GBI makes Arrest in Theft from City of Monticello

GBI Special Agents from the Georgia Cyber Crime Center have charged 68-year-old Edward Porter Allen III for the offense of computer theft relating to the theft of approximately $46,000 from the City of Monticello.  In May of 2019, the GBI was requested by the Jasper County Sheriff to assist in the investigation of a cyber related theft targeting the City of Monticello. The subsequent investigation revealed that the proceeds of the cyber crime had been deposited into Allen’s bank account in Sarasota Florida before a portion of the proceeds were transferred out of the US.  Arrest warrants were secured for Allen in October of 2020 and he was arrested in Florida and extradited to Jasper County.  Allen is currently being held at the Jasper County jail pending bail.  The incident was isolated to the theft of funds and did not involve any compromise of personal identifying information from the City of Monticello.