GATESVILLE, NC — A Florida woman is currently in custody with a one million dollar cash bond after being arrested for her alleged role in a scam that targeted an elderly woman in Gates County.
Gates County Sheriff Ray Campbell identified the suspect as Kelly Earley, a resident of Jacksonville, Florida. Earley faces felony charges of obtaining property by false pretense and felony conspiracy. Her initial court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 16.
Sheriff Campbell explained that deputies received a report earlier last week from an elderly woman who claimed she had fallen victim to a scam. A day after the initial contact, the victim was contacted again by the scammer, who demanded even more money.
“We were able to anticipate the next move,” said Campbell. “Through the phone calls between the scammer and the victim, arrangements were made for a ‘courier’ to pick up the money from the victim’s home on Friday, Dec. 6. Our deputies, along with agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, were waiting for the suspect.”
In a similar case, Campbell mentioned that a similar scam had been carried out recently in Chowan County, targeting another elderly woman. He stressed that scammers often prey on older individuals, but emphasized the importance of vigilance, regardless of the victim’s age. “If something seems suspicious, contact local law enforcement for verification,” Campbell urged.
The Sheriff also noted that the individuals behind these scams are often difficult to apprehend, as the ringleader is likely based in another country. “Unfortunately, we may never be able to get to the person behind this,” Campbell added.
