• 61°
franklin county times

Man charged with scamming elderly

A Russellville man accused of scamming an elderly lady in December of 2009 was arrested this week and authorities said other charges could be pending.
Robert Tollison, 65, 1104 Mullins Ave., Russellville, was charged with second-degree theft of property by deception, Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said.
According to Oliver, investigators at the sheriff’s office received information this week that an 83-year old Franklin County woman was out approximately $1,000 in a deal involving Tollison that allegedly turned out to be a scam.
Oliver said Tollison does transmission work and the elderly woman told investigators that she was approached by Tollison on Dec. 23, 2009, and asked to go in with him on a deal to buy salvaged transmissions that he would then fix up and sell for a higher price.
Oliver said the woman gave Tollison approximately $1,000 to buy the salvaged transmissions and Tollison allegedly told her he would split the profits with her once the transmission were fixed and sold.
“The lady has apparently been asking about these transmissions for a couple of years now and every time she asked, he would give her the run around,” Oliver said.
“He just kept putting her off and telling her she’d get her money soon.”
Oliver said the woman finally became suspicious when a man she knew recently came to her and said Tollison offered him the same exact deal.
“The man told her that Tollison said if he’d go in with him and split the cost of a salvaged transmission, he’d fix it up and sell it and they’d split the profits,” Oliver said. “She knew then that she had been scammed and reported it to us.”
Oliver said the investigation is still pending and Tollison could face additional charges.
“It’s just sad when someone tries to take advantage of the elderly,” Oliver said. “We’re just glad we found out about this before he could scam anyone else in the area.”

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x