MORGANTON, N.C. – Burke County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 35-year-old Carlos Terrill Oneal Wilkerson of Monroeville, Alabama, on felony charges of obtaining property by false pretenses and extortion, and a misdemeanor charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
The investigation began on December 12 of last year when a report was filed about a phone scam. The caller, impersonating Sheriff Banks Hinceman, claimed the victim had missed jury duty and would be arrested unless a $6,000 payment was made. Under duress, the victim complied.
Detectives later identified Wilkerson as the caller. He was arrested in Alabama on May 11 and extradited to Burke County on May 21. He is being held on a $50,000 secured bond and appeared in District Court on May 22.
Sheriff Hinceman reminds residents that no law enforcement agency will ever demand payments over the phone. Anyone receiving such calls is urged to hang up and report the incident to local authorities.
To report scams or for more information, contact the Burke County Sheriff’s Office at 828-438-5500.
