Donald Ray PittsAuthorities in Georgia and Tennessee say that a man who has stood before church congregations in the region to tell his bad-luck story has been duping good-hearted people out of their money.
The Calhoun, Tenn., man has been charged in Whitfield County, Ga., with theft in a scam perpetrated on several local churches there, according to Sheriff Scott Chitwood.
Donald Ray Pitts, 37, was charged with four counts of misdemeanor theft by deception after authorities found the story he spun for several churches in Whitfield County “just didn’t add up,” Chitwood said. A felony-level theft charge begins at $1,500, he said.
Pitts was released Saturday on $4,000 bond; no court date has been set.
“We had received word from some churches and ministers about this individual going around telling a story that was pulling at the heartstrings of some of the churches, but the more we started getting information we discovered there were some discrepancies and some untruthfulness to what he was projecting. That led to the charges that he faces of theft by deception,” Chitwood said.
“In instances such as this, individuals, churches and groups should be very cautious when an individual approaches with a hard-luck story,” Chitwood advised.
McMinn County took Pitts into custody on Whitfield County’s fugitive-from-justice warrant on Sept. 30 and released him Oct. 1 to Whitfield County, according to McMinn County Jail records.
McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said Pitts has hit a couple of churches in McMinn but no one has pressed for prosecution.
“Churches are reluctant to prosecute folks who come seeking help even when they find out that they’ve been misled or scammed,” Guy said. “People know that, and that’s why they take advantage of churches and the good-hearted people there.”
Pitts has even pitched his tale at a McMinn County church Guy attends once a month.
“He always has the same story, he came in and walked in with his child and, of course, a few folks approached him and gave him an opportunity to introduce himself,” said Guy, who wasn’t present that day. “They just didn’t offer him anything.”
The congregation didn’t feel comfortable about Pitts, and Guy said he has advised them about avoiding scammers.
Churches should not give cash but instead offer a gas card, groceries or a meal, because scammers will usually start trying to steer their stooge back toward cash, Guy said. Get the person’s identification and make a copy of it or have them fill out a standardized form that details needs and contact information, he said.
“Anybody who is seeking cash money, a red flag should go up,” Guy said.
Pitts is on the radar in McMinn, he said.
“The message for Mr. Pitts is we know who you are, and given the opportunity we’re going to come and arrest you,” Guy said.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.