Across Georgia

Accused leaders of ministry agree to deal

MONROE --- The leaders of a multimillion dollar food charity under FBI investigation for possible financial misdeeds have reached an agreement to keep them from being barred from their Monroe headquarters.

Attorneys in a lawsuit involving Angel Food Ministries reached an agreement Friday after a Walton County court hearing.

The charity is run by the Rev. Joseph Wingo, his wife and two sons.

The Feb. 25 suit filed by Angel Food board members Craig Atnip, of Texas, and David Prather, of Georgia, alleged the Wingos enriched themselves by at least $2.7 million and directed $600,000 from Angel Food to their church as a "housing allowance."

Under the agreement, the Wingos will allow an audit of Angel Food Ministries and agreed to stop using corporate credit cards for personal expenses, according to Thomas Rogers, an attorney representing the board members. Mr. Rogers said Mr. Prather and Mr. Atnip planned to resign from the board.

In the agreement, the Rev. Wingo also signed over ownership of a jet to Angel Food Ministries. Mr. Rogers said the Rev. Wingo owned the jet and leased the aircraft to Angel Food at a profit.

On Friday, the Wingos sat quietly as a team of attorneys argued to have Judge John M. Ott toss out the case.

Attorneys representing the Wingos would not reveal further details of the settlement afterward, and the Wingos themselves declined to comment.

Ruling lets bank sell bankrupt dealer's cars

LAWRENCEVILLE --- A Georgia judge has allowed the receiver for a bankrupt car dealership to proceed with selling unsold cars at auction.

Premier Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, the operators of five dealerships including one that was placed in receivership last fall, wanted the cars returned to Chrysler LLC under a buyback program.

Superior Court Judge Billy Ray sided Friday with Bank of America, which wanted the vehicles to be auctioned. The bank sees that as a better guarantee for ready cash to pay back the loans it made to the Gwinnett LLC dealership in suburban Atlanta.

Premier Chrysler, which has filed for reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Jacksonville, Fla., argued that auctions would yield 30 percent less of a return.

9 emaciated horses impounded from farm

JONESBORO --- The state Agriculture Department says it has impounded nine horses from a Jonesboro farm after finding them "extremely emaciated."

Department spokesman Arty Schronce said Thursday two dead horses also were found.

He says officials visited a farm owned by a doctor, Phillip Breaton, on Tuesday after getting numerous calls about skinny horses. Inspectors returned a day later with a veterinarian.

The horses were taken to state stables in Newton County. Mr. Schronce says they are expected to recover.