Posted August 21, 2010 at 4:41 p.m.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/aug/21/knoxville-accountant-indicted-fraud-laundering-cha/
KNOXVILLE - A Knoxville accountant has been indicted on federal fraud and money laundering charges.
Ernest E. Choat Jr. faces 15 counts of securities fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering, according to an indictment unsealed late last week in U.S. District Court.
The indictment alleges Choat engaged in a scheme to defraud David M. Lovett, the Lovett Family Trusts and its beneficiaries by the directing the sales of securities held in trust accounts and then converting the proceeds to his own personal use. Choat had been hired by Lovett to serve as trustee, according to the indictment.
Choat is free on pre-trial release pending an Oct. 27 trial.
More developments online and in Sunday's News Sentinel.