Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons announced Friday that the FBI helped arrest an Atlanta man who allegedly defrauded a local resident of $105,000.
Simmons said in a July 31 video on Facebook that FBI agents helped arrest 36-year-old Evera Brown after he allegedly claimed to be an employee of the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court and informed the victim they had missed jury duty and would need to pay to avoid going to jail.
“(Brown) met the victim in the parking lot of The Home Depot where he turned over the money,” Simmons said. “I tell this story to remind everyone, that a legitimate government entity will not call you up, will not try to keep you on the phone, will not demand money and certainly will not meet you in the parking lot of The Home Depot.”
Simmons said Brown will be extradited to Escambia County Jail on either Aug. 3 or 4.
Benjamin Johnson is the breaking news, crime and military reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He covers local law enforcement, courts, breaking news and military within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia victim paid $105K to scammer to avoid jail over ‘missed jury duty’
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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By Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
