ORLANDO MAN POSING AS IRS AGENT ARRESTED FOR DEFRAUDING 82-YEAR-OLD FREEPORT MAN IN SWEEPSTAKES SCAM
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— An Orlando man is facing felony charges of elderly exploitation, fraud, grand theft, and impersonating a federal agent after posing as an IRS agent in a sweepstakes scam.
The 82-year-old victim contacted the Walton County Sheriff’s Office after he was scammed out of nearly $20,000.
The victim told investigators he had received phone calls from a female suspect who claimed to be with Publishers Clearing House. The female caller gained the victim’s trust and falsely convinced the victim he and his wife had won prizes worth millions of dollars. The female suspect told the victim to receive the prize they had to prepay part of the taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.
On February 21st, the victim was convinced to provide $19,500 to a suspect pretending to be an Internal Revenue Agent. The victim met with the male suspect in the parking lot of McDonald’s in Freeport.
The victim described the suspect as a well-built black male wearing nice clothing. According to the victim the suspect presented himself as an IRS agent and he provided the suspect the bank bag containing the cash.
After the delivery, the female suspect called the victim again and informed him an additional $30,000 was needed because the prize the victim was receiving was increased to $74.5 million, a brand-new car, and $550,000 cash.
On March 6th, Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau organized a meet-up at the same location with an investigator posing as the victim.
Terrence George Owens, 38, of Orlando, was arrested after he told the undercover investigator he was there to pick up money from him and took a bank bag from the investigator.
After his arrest, investigators were able to confirm Owens was also the suspect posing as the IRS Agent from the original interaction with the victim.
Owens was charged with grand theft, impersonating a federal agent, exploitation of the elderly, scheme to defraud, and using a two-way communication device to commit a felony. He was issued a $100,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the Walton County Jail at the time of this release. Additional charges are forthcoming.