Two more people accused of being “money mules” were scheduled to appear during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court/Criminal Division Monday but arraignment was waived for both and the court was asked to enter not guilty pleas.
The waiver requests were filed by out-of-town attorneys.
The most recent arrestees are both reported to be from Alabama. Twenty-five-year-old Josiah Kamal Smith who lists an address in Tuscaloosa, and 33-year-old Briana Brittany Norwood of Northport.
They were arrested as part of an ongoing effort to jail people participating in scams aimed at defrauding elderly victims out of large sums of money.
According to a release from the Baxter County Sheriff’s office, a “controlled delivery scenario” involving $250,000 in “bait money” was launched.
On September 22, arrangements were made with a known scammer who was pretending to be Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery.
An elderly male who was cooperating with law enforcement was told to send $250,000 in cash to Mountain Home via Federal Express.
The man was told sending the money would protect it. The scammer pretending to be the sheriff said that one of his deputies – Steve Rogers – would pick up the money.
Scammers generally work out of overseas call centers, many of which are located in India. The scammers arrange some sort of cash transfer with the victim and the actual pickup is handled by “money mules” who are located in this country.
On September 24, the FedEx package arrived at PostNet in Mountain Home. A male was then reported to have entered the building, identifying himself as Steve Rogers, and indicating he was there to claim the package.
As soon as he took possession of the package, Smith was detained by law enforcement. He had a fraudulent Illinois driver’s license issued in the name of Steve Rogers.
Smith told officers he had been “recruited” in Tuscaloosa to act as a “money mule” pick up the package supposedly containing $250,000.
He said he was to be paid $500.
Smith had been dropped off at the FedEx location by Norwood and he provided a description of the vehicle she was driving.
Officers located the vehicle in a parking lot and arrested Norwood. She told officers she had been “recruited” by Smith to drive him to Mountain Home.
She was found to have a fraudulent Connecticut driver’s license in her possession in the name of Angela Mullen.
Smith and Norwood are both charged with criminal attempt to commit theft of property, conspiracy to commit theft of property and financial identity fraud.
The recent sting operation was led by the Mountain Home Police Department.
Other agencies involved included the Baxter County Sheriff’s office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Trilogy Media, an organization working to make the public aware of scammers and in helping organize sting operations such as the recent ones carried out locally.
The series of sting operations began in late July and four people have been arrested for being “money mules” prior to the most recent arrests.
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