ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Georgia woman accused of impersonating St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office personnel has been arrested, bringing an end to a multi-state phone scam that deceived victims across the country.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office (SLCSO), Alisha Chejuan Ester, 47, of Douglasville, Georgia, was part of a sophisticated financial scam that targeted individuals in Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, and other states.
Investigators say Ester and several accomplices inside the Georgia Department of Corrections pretended to be law enforcement officers. They allegedly called victims, falsely claiming they had missed court dates or had outstanding warrants, and demanded payments to avoid arrest.
Authorities said the group exploited victims’ fear of law enforcement, convincing them to send money through various electronic payment methods.
The investigation, conducted jointly by SLCSO and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, led to Ester’s arrest in Jacksonville. She is now booked into the Duval County Jail, facing charges including Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device and Third-Degree Grand Theft.
Officials remind the public that law enforcement agencies never call to demand payment or inform individuals of warrants. Anyone receiving such calls is urged to hang up and contact their local police department directly.
