Burke County business owner faces parole hearing following ATF raid

A parole revocation hearing is scheduled for a Burke County man whose auto shop was recently raided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Daniel Cates arrived at the federal courthouse for the hearing, presided over by Magistrate Judge Brian Epps. Last year, an investigation by the I-TEAM revealed a connection between Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams and Cates Firestone, the business owned by Daniel Cates, which was already under federal investigation.

Cates and Grady Brandon Mobley had previously pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling operation that funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings through businesses, including Cates Firestone. Cates was sentenced to three years of probation, while Mobley received five years of probation and was ordered to pay over $200,000 in restitution. Following a recent search of his business, Cates now faces a probation revocation hearing.

Court records indicate that Mobley violated his probation by using and possessing alcohol, as well as getting arrested on May 2. Federal court documents obtained by the I-TEAM revealed that Sheriff Williams had been a character witness for Mobley, advocating for a lighter sentence and describing him as a “model citizen”. Both the Mobley and Cates families had made significant contributions to Williams’ campaign for sheriff.

In late May, U.S. Probation Services and the ATF conducted a search of Cates’ residence and Cates Firestone in Waynesboro. While authorities have not disclosed the specifics of the raid, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that Cates is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court for a probation revocation hearing. The I-TEAM has requested access to search warrants from federal court, but they are not currently public record.