Accused Interior Decorating Scammer Gets 3 Years In Prison

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — A north Georgia woman accused of running an interior decorating scam that cost residents tens of thousands of dollars has pleaded guilty in connection to the bogus operation.

Randy Hall, of Sautee Nacoochee, on Friday, Nov. 30 pleaded guilty to seven counts of felony theft by conversion, as outlined in two separate indictments issued earlier this year by a Fulton County grand jury, the District Attorney's Office said.

Hall was given a 10-year sentence, three of which she will serve in prison and the rest on probation. She will also have to pay $34,000 in restitution and perform 1,000 hours of community service. Hall is also banned from engaging in any type of interior design businesses as well as having contact with the victims.

Chris Hopper, a spokesperson with the DA's office, said Hall's plea was non-negotiated. Her husband and co-defendant, Kenneth Hall, did not enter a guilty plea, and his case has been placed on the next trial calendar in February, Hopper said.

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According to the first indictment, the theft by conversion charges stem from the couple on two separate occasions accepting checks from a Sandy Springs resident after promising to do work they never followed through on. That resident, Elizabeth Smith, previously told Patch she hired the Halls to oversee the task of decorating for her daughter's wedding.

The second indictment, which detailed five felony theft by conversion charges, stem from a case in Milton where the Halls collectively bilked tens of thousands of dollars from a couple after promising to do renovations to a home, but never followed through on their plans.

Smith and at least two other residents banded together to sound the alarm on the Halls, who allegedly posed as decorators and submitting advertisements on websites and Facebook publicizing their services.

Randy Hall was previously convicted of felony theft by conversion in 2014 and was serving five years on probation during the most recent incidents.

Smith told Patch that other cases against the Halls are moving forward in Cobb, DeKalb and even Charlotte, North Carolina, where the couple is accused of running a scam costing the victims about $400,000.

Photo: Randy Hall. Credit: Fulton County Jail