All Charges Dropped against Gregg and Tara Garner
Benjamin Reese
NASHVILLE, TN
The office of the Attorney General dropped all charges against Tara and Gregg Garner, Institute for GOD Founder and President. The allegations were found to have no merit, being dismissed “with prejudice” (nolle prosequi).
Bill Ramsey, Gregg Garner’s lawyer, in a statement to The Tennessean, said, "The District Attorney's office is very ethical. They looked at the evidence we had and said 'you're right,' and they did the right thing and dropped the charges."
Gregg and Tara Garner had been arrested on allegations of insurance fraud and theft of services. $18,112.06 of medical services had been unknowingly paid for by TennCare. The Garners had private insurance, and they were unaware of their enrollment in TennCare.
The arrest, investigation, and press has caused great physical, mental, and economic damage to Gregg, Tara, and their five young children. The family was already dealing with Gregg’s long and painful battle with cancer. People used the charges as an opportunity to defame their character and work, threaten their lives, and even harass their children. [Read their full story here.]
Institute Founder and President Gregg Garner speaks to Institute undergraduate students at our Opening Chapel during Welcome Week, 2022.
Even though some used the now-dropped charges as an opportunity to cause further harm, many people stood by and supported the Garner family and our college’s parent organization, Global Outreach Developments, fully convinced of their character, integrity, and good work. The Board of Directors for both G.O.D. International and The Institute for G.O.D. never asked Gregg to resign his role as CEO and President.
We are grateful for the support and prayers of mentors and friends at The Association for Biblical Higher Education, which has thoroughly vetted our institution as one fit for biblical higher education. Likewise, The Association for Christian Schools Institution (the member association for The Academy for GOD), offered prayers and legal services.
Gregg and Tara are people of integrity. Their love and service to God in Nashville, Latin America, East Africa, India, and South East Asia has brought opportunities and transformation to tens of thousands over their 25 plus years of ministry.
For any additional questions, contact info@instituteforgod.org
