3 arrested in Jacksonville police phone scam

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Investigators have arrested three people accused of spoofing the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office non-emergency phone number and asking people for money to keep them from being arrested. 

It is similar to a scam police warned public about last week.

Toney Calhoun, Kristen Denton and Bianca Wilson were all charged in connection with the scam.

Recommended Videos



Police said they had been contacting people claiming to be from a law enforcement agency and that the victims had warrants issued for their arrest. Police said the suspects would then let the victims pay a certain amount of money so they wouldn't be arrested.

Calhoun was charged with numerous charges relating to organized fraud, criminal conspiracy, falsely impersonating an officer, and conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, among others.

Denton and Wilson, employees of Calhoun's, have been charged with organized fraud due to their roles in the scam, police said.

Investigators said they have been unable to link these three suspects, nor do they expect to be able to, to the scam alert JSO issued last week in which scammers were using the JSO non-emergency phone number and soliciting money and personal information by threatening arrest if the information was not provided.

Police ask that people continue to be vigilant regarding this mode of operation and understand that the agency does not conduct collections activities. Anyone contacted by someone claiming to be performing collections activities on behalf of JSO is urged to contact the economic crimes unit at 904-630-0500.

Anyone who has any information about the identity or whereabouts of anyone conducting this type of activity is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.