Sarasota, Fla. – A new fraud scheme has shocked Sarasota authorities, with a woman losing over $12,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated scam originating from a Georgia prison cell.
United States Attorney Roger Handberg described the scheme as “brazen,” revealing that the suspect, 30-year-old Anthony Sanders, orchestrated the scam from behind bars using a smuggled phone. The fraud began in January when a Sarasota woman received a call she believed was from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. The caller ID matched the sheriff’s office, and the person on the line impersonated a sheriff, claiming a warrant had been issued for her arrest due to missed jury duty.
The victim was instructed to make a payment to clear the warrant at what was presented as a “Bonding Transition Center.” In reality, the center was a Bitcoin ATM, where she deposited over $12,000 in cryptocurrency. The funds were transferred to a Bitcoin wallet owned by Andrews, a known associate of Sanders. Within a day, the funds were rapidly moved to other accounts.
According to the FBI, Sanders used prison phones to direct Andrews on where to send the funds. Sanders also had Andrews purchase prepaid phones, which were sent back to him in prison via drones.
FBI Special Agent Alvin Lewis described how Sanders coerced the victim, claiming she was under surveillance and could be arrested if she didn’t cooperate. The victim was manipulated into taking out the large sum of money and using the Bitcoin ATM to pay the fictitious fine.
Authorities have since charged Anthony Sanders, also known as “Slanga,” and Marlita Andrews with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, both face up to 20 years in federal prison. The U.S. government is also seeking to forfeit $12,825, the alleged proceeds from the scam.
In Sarasota alone, at least 30 victims have been identified, with over $100,000 collectively scammed. Sheriff Kurt Hoffman expressed his anger over the incident, stating, “It’s infuriating to see my fellow citizens victimized by these types of people.”
Authorities have warned that similar scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement and coerce victims into making payments via Bitcoin, are on the rise. The scammers often use personal information about their victims, making the scam appear more legitimate.
The investigation continues, with authorities urging anyone who suspects they have fallen victim to similar scams to come forward.
