by Rebecca Rakoczy

 

Richard Sells has started three books of fiction. All are about at the “20-page mark.” One is a novel about an Elvis impersonator who is mistaken for the “real King” of rock and roll. In the second novel, a Southern governor finds the answers to stopping terrorism and crime in a little Alabama town. And in the third, a retired sheriff discovers that his sleepy vacation town is not quite as sleepy as it seems.

 

Sells, who is a writing tutor at Georgia Perimeter College, says he intends to finish all the books–someday.

 

But his real life story, with its varied twists and turns, keeps him pretty busy.

 

To wit, Sells spent 10 years with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; first as an undercover narcotics agent buying drugs from dealers around the state; then as a medical fraud investigator, busting crooked medical professionals and people who received services for which they are not eligible.

 

“I was in danger whether I felt fear or not,” Sells recalls. “But I always had the tremendous backup teams from GBI; the equipment was superior, and that helps alleviate the sensation of fear.”

 

Sells’ switch from narcotics to other investigative areas such as fraud was a common move among narcotics agents to prevent them from becoming too recognizable, he says. But the change was not an easy one. “Switching to medical fraud presented more difficult criminals to investigate,” he says.

 

During his time at the GBI, Sells became a boxing match inspector, and later became certified as a judge for boxing matches in Georgia. Although he has never boxed formally, he continues to judge matches throughout the state

 

“The Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission was on the lookout for GBI agents because they notice details some people don’t notice; like how fingers are wrapped and exactly what is going on in the corners during the rounds,” Sells explains.

 

Other chapters of Sells’ life include a 17-year career as an art teacher and school administrator in Morgan County Schools, including time spent receiving his master’s degree in education and a six-year degree in administration.

 

He also served four years in the U.S. Air Force, working in a reconnaissance photography laboratory.

 

In addition to his array of interesting jobs, Sells has sparred in Tae Kwon Do and become a pool (billiards) aficionado who continues to play weekly pool tournaments at Southern Billiards in Loganville.

 

He has sculpted works in recycled metals, and some of his creations are on temporary display throughout the city of Norcross.

 

For the past five years, twice a week, Sells has brought his multifaceted background to GPC students as a writing tutor in the Newton Learning and Tutoring Center. “I like working with students to help them write well, Sells says. “It keeps my brain active, and I have to stay on my toes,” he says.

 

Although he majored in art at the University of Georgia in the 1960s, Sells says he has always loved writing. “As a kid, I hid under the covers and read paperbacks with a flashlight,” he says. “I think that contributed to my love of writing.”

 

His skill with the written word also came in handy at the GBI, he says, where the writing of long, detailed reports was one of his responsibilities. The often tedious specifics he included about the drug deals and medical fraud were crucial for the attorneys who prosecuted the cases.

 

“Sometimes when you finish a case, the folder can be 2 or 3 inches thick. The lawyers are using the evidence you’ve written as a way to prosecute the case, so it’s extremely important to be able to write accurately,” Sells says.

 

Sells retired from the GBI in 2010, but didn’t stay retired for long. He learned about the GPC tutoring job and jumped at yet another opportunity to do something different.

 

“I guess my wife doesn’t want me retired at home,” he says with a grin.