The owner of a local mobile home sales business was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with 10 counts of theft by deception and 13 counts of first-degree forgery. Authorities claim 10 victims of the scheme suffered losses ranging from $6,000 to over $37,000 and totaling more than $200,000.

According to Capt. Mike Walker of the Tift County Sheriff’s Department’s investigative division, the investigation into the case by his department has been ongoing for several months. Charles Ray Goodman, 57, 5276 U.S. Highway 319 S., was arrested at his business, Ray’s Mobile Homes off U.S. Highway 82 E., Wednesday morning.

According to the incident reports filed in the cases of the theft by deception charges, two complaints were filed against Goodman by representatives of the Berrien County tax assessor’s office and eight by representatives of the Tift County tax assessor’s office.

There are allegedly 20 victims who bought mobile homes from Goodman that led to the charges. The charges stem from 13 mobile homes sold in 2006 and seven sold in 2007.

The incident reports indicate that Goodman is accused of selling mobile homes as either 1991 or 1994 Pioneer brands “when they weren’t.” The alleged victims include people and companies from Tifton and Tift County, Alapaha and Tallahassee, Fla.

Walker wouldn’t say, but it is believed that the mobile homes were either older than buyers knew or not worth as much as much as was represented to them for other reasons.

“The forgery charges stem from misrepresentation on documents in support of the theft by deception charges,” Walker said.

Walker said some of the alleged victims paid cash for the mobile homes. Others borrowed money to pay for them.

“They are still obligated and bound to pay the lenders,” Walker said, of those who borrowed the money.

People convicted of theft by deception, a felony, can be sentenced to serve between one and 10 years in prison on each count. Georgia law defines the charge as “obtaining property of another by deceitful means” and the statute also requires that the defendant intend to deprive the owner of the property.

People convicted of first-degree forgery can be sentenced to serve between one and 10 years in prison on each count.

Goodman was arraigned on the charges Wednesday by Tift County Magistrate Judge Doug Jones. No bond has been set and Goodman remains incarcerated at the Tift County Jail.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.