Opening Statements Today in Kilby Racketeering Trial
Lawanda “Peanut” Kilby
Opening statements get underway today in Rabun County in the theft and racketeering trial against Lowanda Peanut Kilby, former manager of the Boggs Mountain Animal Shelter.
In a 60-count indictment last year, Kilby was accused of 29 separate acts of computer theft and theft by taking as well as one count of theft by taking and a violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The indictment alleges that in 2012, Kilby used computers to fraudulently take donations intended for the shelter’s Lucky Dog/Lucky Kitty program through PayPal.
She then allegedly euthanized most of the dogs and cats in the program – animals she promised on the shelter’s web site would be placed into new homes.
Scottie and Tracey Elrod of Toccoa tell WLHR News they gave their two dogs to Boggs Mountain’s Lucky Dog program thinking they would be adopted to new families, but instead the dogs were put down.
Their dogs are two of the 16 dogs and 12 cats that are referred to by name in the indictment. Scottie Elrod is expected to testify in the trial. Kilby’s trial is expected to last about two weeks.