HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Following a six-month investigation, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has arrested nine individuals in connection with a multi-year vehicle title fraud scheme in north Georgia, which allegedly generated over $1 million in illicit gains.
The investigation, which involved 13 local, state, and national agencies, began in June 2025 when authorities identified Brandy Marie Pitts, 46, of Lavonia, and Susan Faye Palencia, 61, of Homer, as the alleged masterminds behind the fraud. Both women operated multiple LLCs from office space in Gainesville.
According to HCSO, local car dealers colluded with Pitts and Palencia to sell older, high-mileage vehicles to unlicensed residents at inflated prices. Because unlicensed buyers cannot legally register vehicles, they were directed to Pitts and Palencia, who charged hundreds of dollars to register the vehicles under their corporate names.
In addition, the women reportedly encouraged the buyers to obtain insurance through America Insurance Agency, another business they owned. Investigators determined the scheme had been active since 2018, and hundreds of vehicles were registered under the women’s companies over a seven-year period.
Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson B.J. Williams said, “This investigation highlights the extensive coordination between multiple agencies to uncover complex schemes that exploit vulnerable residents and manipulate legal processes for financial gain.”
Nine individuals were indicted in December 2025 by the Hall County District Attorney’s Office for violations of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Arrest orders were issued on Dec. 19, and all suspects have been booked at the Hall County Jail.
Suspects Arrested:
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 except Lindsey Ngu posted bond and were released. Ngu remains in custody on a drug court hold.
Agencies involved in the investigation:
Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Tax Commissioner’s Office, Flowery Branch Police Department, Gainesville Police Department, Banks County Sheriff’s Office, Lavonia Police Department, Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, Rabun County Tax Commissioner’s Office, Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance & Fire Safety, Georgia Department of Revenue, Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Authorities emphasized that all charges are allegations, and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
