Nov 24, 2008 1:42 pm US/Central
20 Cook County Jail Inmates Charged In Phone Scam
Most Inmates Charged With Impersonating Police Officer
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Twenty Cook County Jail inmates are charged with impersonating a police officer for taking part in fraudulent phone calls, a scam that charged a total of more than $50,000 in illegal calls and prompted installation of a new phone system at the jail.
Most of the offenders, charged over several days late last week, face one count of impersonation of a police officer, a felony that could add up to three years on their sentences, according to a release from the Cook County Sheriff's office.
The scam was conducted by inmates housed in various areas of the jail, from minimum security dorms to maximum security wings, who, because they were pre-trial detainees not yet been convicted of crimes, were entitled to use pay phones in jail day rooms, the release said. The inmates were able to "hijack" victims' phone numbers and charge subsequent collect calls to victims' home accounts.
Inmates would place collect calls to random numbers and pose as a police officer, telling the individual who answered that a loved one was in an auto accident and in order to get more information, they should dial a series of numbers to reach an officer at the scene, the release said. The inmate instructs the person to call a number beginning with "*72" or "1172." Dialing the number opens the victim's phone line for use by the inmate, allowing the phone at the jail to continue to be used until the victim contacts their phone company.
The investigation began in early June and concluded with the charges brought last week, the release said. Offenders placed calls to random numbers in Chicago, Maywood, Gary, Ind.; Las Vegas, Jefferson, Texas; London, Ky.; Willowville, Ohio and Berwick, Nova Scotia.
"The old phone system allowed inmates to reach out from behind bars to victimize people in their own homes," Sheriff Tom Dart said the release. "Listening to these calls is heartbreaking, especially when you hear the fear in the voices of the victims."
In one case, offender Antoine Simmons allegedly called a Las Vegas home on July 17 and speaks with an 11-year-old boy, the release said. Simmons, linked to nearly 80 scam jailhouse calls, got the boy to copy the fraudulent number and dial it, opening the phone line for two days and racking up $115 in fraudulent charges.
In a second case, inmate Marquez Ellis called a Texas home on Oct. 30 and spoke to a woman with a heart condition who was so upset by the call, she handed the phone to another relative who tearfully took down the umber and begged the inmate "officer" to tell her that her loved ones were not dead. Ultimately, the women followed the inmate's instructions, resulting in about $60 in fraudulent charges.
To stop the scam, a new phone system was installed throughout the jail campus in late OCtober. New features include a longer introduction that specifically states, "This is a collect call from an inmate at the Cook County Department of Corrections in Chicago, Illinois. Be aware of unlawful solicitation or deceptive practices." It also warns those answering the phone not to dial "*72" or "1172."
It also allows citizens to call the jail and have their phone number blocked from being dialed by inmates. Anyone wishing to do so should call (773) 869-6838.
The system also features voice biometrics, which go into effect next year. It records an inmate's voice when he is processed into the jail and is retained as a "vocal fingerprint" enabling officers to track an inmate to fraudulent calls.
Offenders from Chicago charged with felonies include:
-- Anthony Alexander, 24, of 1432 N. Maplewood;
-- Nicholas Akerele, 27, of 175 N. Harbor Dr.;
-- Christopher Baggett, 27, of 730 N. Lockwood Ave.;
-- Bruce Booker, 26, of 7007 S. Elizabeth;
-- Deonte Clayborn, 20, of 935 E. 45th St.;
-- Kentrell Culbreath, 28, of 9139 S. Commercial;
-- Javon Dockery, 23, of 5246 S. Morgan;
-- Markez Ellis, 26, of 4057 W. Cullerton;
-- Kazeen Kareem, 27, of 3726 W. 84th St.;
-- Antonio Mathis, 24, of 3536 W. 12th St.;
-- Correail Nash, 21, of 5614 S. Troop;
-- Frank Thomas, 27, of 6914 Elizabeth;
-- Donnell Turman, 18, of 5525 S. Everett;
-- Kenyhatta Williams, 26 of 711 S. Western Ave.; and
-- Jaber Wilson, 22, of 7526 S. Eberhart.
Also charged with felonies were Ronnie Gordon, 26, of 1010 S. 11th Ave. in Maywood; and Timothy Simmons, 30, of 14528 Vail in Dixmoor.
Charged with misdemeanors were Albert Collins, 23, of 6611 S. Paulina, Chicago; and Simmons, 30.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Supermodel Disasters
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
