The chairman of the Henry County Zoning Advisory Board pleaded guilty Tuesday to selling real estate without a license.
Terry Tumlin Echols, 48, earned $34,500 in commission for selling land to the county in November 2009, according to court documents obtained by the AJC. The land is now the site of the county's recently completed Emergency Operations Center.
At the time, the property, formerly known as the McDonough RV Center on Industrial Drive, was in foreclosure and was sold to the county for $1.15 million, documents show.
In a letter to the Bank of Georgia dated Nov. 19, 2009, Echols' corporation, Echols Enterprises Inc., seeks a 3 percent commission on the sale.
"Once the property closes, Echols Enterprises Inc. will expect payment for services rendered for three percent of total sales price, or thirty four thousand five hundred dollars (34,500.00)," the letter states.
Later that month, Echols also sent an invoice to the bank totaling $12,000 in cleanup fees on the property, according to a letter obtained by the AJC.
The Henry County District Attorney's office began investigating Echols' role in the land sale in May.
In a May 11 letter to an investigator in the DA's office, Echols denied being involved directly with the sale of the property.
"I did not have a real estate license in 2008, and the bank did not pay my company or me for selling real estate," Echols wrote in the letter.
Echols was accused of the misdemeanor offense of practicing as a real estate agent in an affidavit in support of accusation. He pleaded guilty to the charge Tuesday.
About the Author
