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Those “jury duty” scam calls many Central Floridians have been getting may be coming from an unexpected place: a prison — linked to organized criminal networks.A joint investigation involving state and federal agencies found inmates inside a Georgia prison were behind a wave of jury duty scams targeting victims across the country, including Florida. Sarasota Detective Andrew Rowe says the jury duty scam network he has been investigating has moved staggering amounts of money. He said that “from September 2023 through roughly November 2024, $87 million flowed through one platform alone.”Rowe’s investigation began about two years ago and ultimately helped connect the scam calls to a Georgia prison. He believes roughly 90% of the scam jury duty calls hitting Central Florida trace back to the same perpetrators.The breakthrough came in January 2024, when a Sarasota woman received a call saying she had missed jury duty. Investigators say she was pressured into sending about $18,000 in bitcoin. Rowe and his partner traced the money to a woman in Macon, Georgia. She told police her boyfriend — who was incarcerated — was using cellphones inside the prison to run the scam.That raised a major question: How are inmates getting phones behind bars?Rowe says the investigation expanded quickly, including evidence suggesting contraband was being delivered by drones dropping bags containing items like phones and drugs. To confirm what they were hearing, Rowe says investigators received a call from the inmate. In the background, he says, they could hear the sounds of prison life: cell doors and inmates yelling.How the scam sounds so realDetectives say the scammers do their homework to make the calls convincing. They use real deputy names found on agency Facebook pages and spoof numbers. He says the inmates also pull personal details using online search tools.In one recent case reported in Volusia County, a scammer posed as the sheriff’s second-in-command, Chief Deputy Brian Henderson. A recording captured the fake message:”This is Chief Deputy Brian Henderson … Volusia County Sheriff’s Department. I need you to give me a call back.”Investigators say the voice was not Henderson’s.A local case tied to the Georgia inmatesMarion County deputies recorded at least one case believed to be linked to the same Georgia inmate group. In that case, a woman lost $4,000 after receiving a call that sounded legitimate and included personal information like her name, address and date of birth.When she told the scammer she was going to call her son, who works for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the report states the caller insisted there was no need, saying they had already spoken to him, even referencing him by name.Detectives say fear is the weapon. Victims are told they could be arrested if they do not comply, and many of the people targeted could lose their jobs if they were arrested for a felony. Rowe says scammers also appear to target people with professional licenses — such as medical licenses — because Florida’s public records make many of those details searchable.Investigators say it’s bigger than one caseIn the Sarasota investigation, indictments were secured for an inmate and his girlfriend, who are awaiting sentencing. However, Rowe says the operation likely extends beyond one couple.”This is much bigger. We have a pretty good suspicion that this is being done to support the gangs on the outside.”What you should doLaw enforcement’s message is simple: Do not send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to anyone saying you missed jury duty — and do not trust caller ID.If you get a call like this, hang up and contact your local sheriff’s office using a verified number from the agency’s official website.
Those “jury duty” scam calls many Central Floridians have been getting may be coming from an unexpected place: a prison — linked to organized criminal networks.
A joint investigation involving state and federal agencies found inmates inside a Georgia prison were behind a wave of jury duty scams targeting victims across the country, including Florida.
Sarasota Detective Andrew Rowe says the jury duty scam network he has been investigating has moved staggering amounts of money. He said that “from September 2023 through roughly November 2024, $87 million flowed through one [pay] platform alone.”
Rowe’s investigation began about two years ago and ultimately helped connect the scam calls to a Georgia prison. He believes roughly 90% of the scam jury duty calls hitting Central Florida trace back to the same perpetrators.
The breakthrough came in January 2024, when a Sarasota woman received a call saying she had missed jury duty. Investigators say she was pressured into sending about $18,000 in bitcoin.
Rowe and his partner traced the money to a woman in Macon, Georgia. She told police her boyfriend — who was incarcerated — was using cellphones inside the prison to run the scam.
That raised a major question: How are inmates getting phones behind bars?
Rowe says the investigation expanded quickly, including evidence suggesting contraband was being delivered by drones dropping bags containing items like phones and drugs.
To confirm what they were hearing, Rowe says investigators received a call from the inmate. In the background, he says, they could hear the sounds of prison life: cell doors and inmates yelling.
How the scam sounds so real
Detectives say the scammers do their homework to make the calls convincing. They use real deputy names found on agency Facebook pages and spoof numbers. He says the inmates also pull personal details using online search tools.
In one recent case reported in Volusia County, a scammer posed as the sheriff’s second-in-command, Chief Deputy Brian Henderson. A recording captured the fake message:
“This is Chief Deputy Brian Henderson … Volusia County Sheriff’s Department. I need you to give me a call back.”
Investigators say the voice was not Henderson’s.
A local case tied to the Georgia inmates
Marion County deputies recorded at least one case believed to be linked to the same Georgia inmate group. In that case, a woman lost $4,000 after receiving a call that sounded legitimate and included personal information like her name, address and date of birth.
When she told the scammer she was going to call her son, who works for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the report states the caller insisted there was no need, saying they had already spoken to him, even referencing him by name.
Detectives say fear is the weapon. Victims are told they could be arrested if they do not comply, and many of the people targeted could lose their jobs if they were arrested for a felony.
Rowe says scammers also appear to target people with professional licenses — such as medical licenses — because Florida’s public records make many of those details searchable.
Investigators say it’s bigger than one case
In the Sarasota investigation, indictments were secured for an inmate and his girlfriend, who are awaiting sentencing. However, Rowe says the operation likely extends beyond one couple.
“This is much bigger. We have a pretty good suspicion that this is being done to support the gangs on the outside.”
What you should do
Law enforcement’s message is simple: Do not send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to anyone saying you missed jury duty — and do not trust caller ID.
If you get a call like this, hang up and contact your local sheriff’s office using a verified number from the agency’s official website.
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