COMMUNITY ALERT: A 33-year-old woman was killed in a West Macon shooting. Someone knows what happened. If you saw or heard anything — before or after the shooting — now is the time. Report tips anonymously: 1-877-68CRIME or www.crimestop.us... See MoreSee Less
Community Alert: Three people were shot at the Autumn Trace Apartments in #maconga. All victims were transported to the hospital and are reported to be in stable condition. Report any info anonymously 478-742-2330
United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Georgia __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melissa Hodges JANUARY 9, 2026
Public Affairs Director/Spokesperson MDGA.gov | @USAO_MDGA
Melissa.Hodges@usdoj.gov Georgia Inmates Found Guilty in Nationwide Jury-Duty Call Scheme Defendants Impersonated Police, Threatened Citizens for Missing Jury Duty, Collected Payments
ALBANY, Ga. – Two Georgia inmates involved in a nationwide call scheme exhorting unsuspecting citizens to pay off fines to avoid arrest and prosecution were found guilty of their crimes in federal court tonight.
Joey Amour Jackson aka “Apes---,” and Lance Riddle aka “C-Port,” both of Calhoun State Prison, were found guilty of all counts charged by indictment: one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering on Jan. 9, following a five-day trial that began on Jan. 5, before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands in Albany. The defendants face a maximum 30 years in prison for wire fraud and a maximum of 20 years in prison for money laundering, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine per count. A sentencing date will be scheduled by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Centered out of Calhoun State Prison in Georgia, inmates and co-conspirators outside prison walls participated in a nationwide scheme to extract money from citizens by threatening them with arrest and other penalties for missing jury duty,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This scheme went even further by coercing personal photos from some female victims, resulting in threats of rape and other violence against them by inmates. Law enforcement is dedicated to identifying and apprehending those who exploit the goodwill of our citizens, ensuring they face the maximum consequences permitted by law.”
“Not even prison cells prevented these criminals from harming dozens of innocent people. Hopefully, this verdict will bring some level of comfort to the victims and prevent others from falling for similar scams,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in not only addressing these types of inmate-based crimes but also in preventing inmates access to contraband cell phones that provide the means to do so much harm to the unsuspecting public.”
According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, FBI agents in Columbus, Georgia, received information from various law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. regarding reports of wire fraud by Georgia inmates, including from local law enforcement in Colorado, Florida, Virginia, Nevada, California and Ohio. Agents discovered that inmates at Calhoun State Prison, including Jackson and Riddle, were using contraband cellular telephones and advanced electronic techniques such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to contact victims from a number that mirrored the numbers of their local police departments.
The victims were told they had one or more warrants for their arrest due to missing jury duty. The defendants, posing as police officers, informed the victims that the warrants would be cleared through payment of a bond over the phone and, if not paid, the victims would immediately be arrested. The victims were also informed they were under a “gag” order and couldn’t speak about their warrants until the bond was paid, or they would be immediately arrested. The victims were almost always instructed to purchase gift cards and read the numbers off the back of the cards to the defendants, although wire transfers were sometimes made. Once the bond was paid, the victims were instructed to drive to their local police department to verify their signature on the bond.
Many female victims were told that, because of supposed heightened courthouse security, they needed to go to a local Target store, enter a restroom, undress and record themselves performing a self-conducted cavity search before verifying their signature. Some victims subsequently received lewd and sexually explicit messages, including photos of male genitalia and violent threats. The scheme primarily targeted female professionals with prominent online profiles, though a small number of male victims were also identified.
The inmates impersonated both fictitious individuals and real law enforcement officers from the victims’ local jurisdictions. They worked with co-conspirators outside prison who managed the financial accounts for the group. The stolen proceeds were used to pay off personal debts such as house and vehicle loans, as well as to purchase drugs.
The scheme resulted in more than $464,920 in documented losses from 119 victims nationwide, though the true number of victims is likely much higher. Many cases go unreported, are not fully investigated or are concealed by victims who are too embarrassed to come forward.
The case was investigated by the FBI Atlanta’s Columbus Resident Agency and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Leah McEwen. ... See MoreSee Less
Macon Regional Crimestoppers
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" Make the Call " 478.742.2330, 877.68crime (27463 ) or www.crimestop.us ... See MoreSee Less
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Powerful message! Well done!
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GBI: 9 people arrested, $50,000 worth of drug seized in multi-agency operation in Milledgeville ... See MoreSee Less
GBI: 9 people arrested, $50,000 worth of drug seized in multi-agency operation in Milledgeville
www.13wmaz.com
The operation - which has been going on since 2023 - led to the seizure of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, 84 grams of marijuana, and more.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Locate the fugitives in this week's video. For reward up to $2,000, anonymously report tips and #MakeTheCall 1-877-68CRIME #maconga #Georgia
youtu.be/Mu9N1Ikqgh0
#BibbCounty #jonescountyga #monroecountyga #houstoncountyga #CrawfordCountyGa #peachcountyga #BaldwinCountyGA ... See MoreSee Less
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UPDATE: Warner Robins woman sentenced for $5.4M Georgia Medicaid fraud (Find the link below 👇 in the first comment!) ... See MoreSee Less
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COMMUNITY ALERT: A 33-year-old woman was killed in a West Macon shooting. Someone knows what happened. If you saw or heard anything — before or after the shooting — now is the time. Report tips anonymously:
1-877-68CRIME or www.crimestop.us ... See MoreSee Less
'Right in our front yard' | Neighbors shaken after 33-year-old woman killed in fatal West Macon shooting
www.13wmaz.com
33-year-old Kianna Slater died at the hospital after she was allegedly shot by 41-year-old Bobby Troutman.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Community Alert: Three people were shot at the Autumn Trace Apartments in #maconga. All victims were transported to the hospital and are reported to be in stable condition. Report any info anonymously 478-742-2330
... See MoreSee Less
'It was going right past my window' | Neighbors stunned after three people shot at Autumn Trace Apartments
www.13wmaz.com
Three people were hospitalized after an early morning shooting at Autumn Trace Apartments in West Macon. Neighbors say the gunfire woke them up.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Change is accomplished when we each do our part. ... See MoreSee Less
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United States Attorney’s Office
Middle District of Georgia
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melissa Hodges
JANUARY 9, 2026
Public Affairs Director/Spokesperson
MDGA.gov | @USAO_MDGA
Melissa.Hodges@usdoj.gov
Georgia Inmates Found Guilty in Nationwide Jury-Duty Call Scheme
Defendants Impersonated Police, Threatened Citizens for Missing Jury Duty, Collected Payments
ALBANY, Ga. – Two Georgia inmates involved in a nationwide call scheme exhorting unsuspecting citizens to pay off fines to avoid arrest and prosecution were found guilty of their crimes in federal court tonight.
Joey Amour Jackson aka “Apes---,” and Lance Riddle aka “C-Port,” both of Calhoun State Prison, were found guilty of all counts charged by indictment: one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering on Jan. 9, following a five-day trial that began on Jan. 5, before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands in Albany. The defendants face a maximum 30 years in prison for wire fraud and a maximum of 20 years in prison for money laundering, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine per count. A sentencing date will be scheduled by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Centered out of Calhoun State Prison in Georgia, inmates and co-conspirators outside prison walls participated in a nationwide scheme to extract money from citizens by threatening them with arrest and other penalties for missing jury duty,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This scheme went even further by coercing personal photos from some female victims, resulting in threats of rape and other violence against them by inmates. Law enforcement is dedicated to identifying and apprehending those who exploit the goodwill of our citizens, ensuring they face the maximum consequences permitted by law.”
“Not even prison cells prevented these criminals from harming dozens of innocent people. Hopefully, this verdict will bring some level of comfort to the victims and prevent others from falling for similar scams,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in not only addressing these types of inmate-based crimes but also in preventing inmates access to contraband cell phones that provide the means to do so much harm to the unsuspecting public.”
According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, FBI agents in Columbus, Georgia, received information from various law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. regarding reports of wire fraud by Georgia inmates, including from local law enforcement in Colorado, Florida, Virginia, Nevada, California and Ohio. Agents discovered that inmates at Calhoun State Prison, including Jackson and Riddle, were using contraband cellular telephones and advanced electronic techniques such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to contact victims from a number that mirrored the numbers of their local police departments.
The victims were told they had one or more warrants for their arrest due to missing jury duty. The defendants, posing as police officers, informed the victims that the warrants would be cleared through payment of a bond over the phone and, if not paid, the victims would immediately be arrested. The victims were also informed they were under a “gag” order and couldn’t speak about their warrants until the bond was paid, or they would be immediately arrested. The victims were almost always instructed to purchase gift cards and read the numbers off the back of the cards to the defendants, although wire transfers were sometimes made. Once the bond was paid, the victims were instructed to drive to their local police department to verify their signature on the bond.
Many female victims were told that, because of supposed heightened courthouse security, they needed to go to a local Target store, enter a restroom, undress and record themselves performing a self-conducted cavity search before verifying their signature. Some victims subsequently received lewd and sexually explicit messages, including photos of male genitalia and violent threats. The scheme primarily targeted female professionals with prominent online profiles, though a small number of male victims were also identified.
The inmates impersonated both fictitious individuals and real law enforcement officers from the victims’ local jurisdictions. They worked with co-conspirators outside prison who managed the financial accounts for the group. The stolen proceeds were used to pay off personal debts such as house and vehicle loans, as well as to purchase drugs.
The scheme resulted in more than $464,920 in documented losses from 119 victims nationwide, though the true number of victims is likely much higher. Many cases go unreported, are not fully investigated or are concealed by victims who are too embarrassed to come forward.
The case was investigated by the FBI Atlanta’s Columbus Resident Agency and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Leah McEwen. ... See MoreSee Less
mdga.gov
mdga.gov
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