(This story was updated with new information.)
A man locked up in a Georgia state prison pretended to be a Flagler County Sheriff’s “officer” to scam a Palm Coast resident out of money the inmate said he used to buy marijuana inside the prison, according to a press release.
Abraham Rivas, 32, who is incarcerated at Dooly State Prison in south central Georgia, was charged in a Flagler County arrest warrant with organized scheme to defraud and grand theft by the sheriff’s office.
Rivas admitted to the scam and claimed other inmates also ran scams and that correctional staff were aware, the sheriff’s office stated.
Rivas said he used the money to buy marijuana inside prison.
“This suspect used deception and impersonated FCSO to exploit our victim and they did this from a Georgia prison,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly stated in a release. “It appears criminal activity is occurring right under their nose, and that is completely inexcusable. If you steal from our residents, whether you are in Flagler County or in a prison cell in another state, we will investigate the case, obtain a warrant, and hold you accountable.”
Rivas was sentenced to four years in prison in Georgia for charges including aggravated assault; theft by taking; and robbery by sudden snatching, the sheriff’s office stated. He was scheduled for release in 2027.
The News-Journal contacted the Georgia Department of Corrections, but did not immediately receive a response.
How did a Georgia inmate scam a Palm Coast resident?
The investigation began March 12 when the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fraud report.
Rivas claimed to be Flagler County Sheriff’s Officer Christopher Osorio and convinced the resident to send him two $500 payments.
The victim’s spouse had recently been arrested and the victim believed the money was needed for bond and an ankle monitor, the sheriff’s office stated.
There is no one at the sheriff’s office named Christopher Osorio.
Georgia inmate: Correctional staff aware of inmate scams
Detectives tracked the money to a bank account, whose holder said Rivas claimed was winnings from legal sports betting. The money was put into Rivas’ commissary account at Dooly State Prison.
In an interview with a Flagler Sheriff’s Office detective, Rivas admitted to the scam and said other inmates in the prison system also ran scams.
Rivas “claimed that correctional staff were aware of the activity,” according to the release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Georgia officials: Drones part of cellphone problem
Georgia Department of Corrections Director of Communications Joan Heath wrote in an email that the prison system is investigating the cases but “none have shown any staff members to be involved — only the inmates and civilians who are assisting them.”
She wrote that the prison system is continuing to battle inmates’ use of contraband cellphones to commit crimes while behind bars.
“The cellphone and drone challenge affects every state’s correctional system,” she wrote.
Heath wrote that Congress passed the Safer Skies Act of 2025, which expands “counter-drone authorities” to law enforcement agencies, providing “critical tools to better detect, track and mitigate unauthorized drone activity near correctional facilities, thus assisting in halting the introduction of cellphones.”
Flagler County sheriff: Don’t send money to unknown people
“The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will never call, text or email demanding money or personal information to clear up a warrant, avoid arrest or resolve a legal issue,” Staly added. “Do not send money to anyone you do not know, especially via Zelle, Cash App, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other instant payment methods, as it’s most likely a scam.”
Anyone who believes they’ve been a target of this scam should report it to FCSO’s non-emergency line: 386-313-4911. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Georgia inmate posed as cop, admits to scamming Palm Coast resident
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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