An Escambia County resident allegedly lost $105,000 after a caller claimed that missing jury duty could lead to arrest and demanded an enormous cash payment.
Investigators identified the accused man as Evera Charles Brown, 36, of Atlanta. Sheriff Chip Simmons said Brown posed as an employee of the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court and remained in constant telephone contact while the victim withdrew the money.
The victim was then directed to a Home Depot parking lot, where the entire $105,000 was handed over in cash.
The Caller Used Missed Jury Duty to Threaten Arrest
Brown allegedly contacted the victim while claiming to represent the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court, according to WKRG. The victim was told that jury duty had been missed and that jail was possible unless the matter was resolved through an immediate payment.
Simmons said the caller requested $105,000, turning the supposed jury violation into a demand for nearly six figures in cash. Simmons said Brown remained in constant contact with the victim while the money was being obtained. The victim followed the caller’s directions, went to a bank and withdrew $105,000.
The Entire $105,000 Was Handed Over at Home Depot
After leaving the bank, the victim was directed to complete the payment in person rather than through an official courthouse or government payment system. The exchange took place in a Home Depot parking lot, according to WEAR ABC 3.
Simmons said the victim met the person collecting the payment and handed over the full $105,000. Authorities have not identified the victim, disclosed whether surveillance footage captured the exchange or announced that any of the cash was recovered.
The FBI Arrested Brown in Atlanta
The FBI arrested Brown in Atlanta following the investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office announced July 31. Brown faces a fraud charge in Escambia County connected to the alleged $105,000 loss. Simmons said he was expected to be extradited from Georgia to Florida early the following week. The charge remains an allegation.
Courts Do Not Replace Arrest With a Telephone Payment
The Escambia County Clerk of Court warns that neither a court nor a law-enforcement agency will demand payment by telephone in place of an arrest. Official jury summonses are delivered by mail. The clerk’s office says it does not call or email people demanding money because they missed jury duty.
A caller’s knowledge of a person’s name, address, court location or local officials does not prove that the call is genuine. Caller ID can also be manipulated to display an official telephone number. Anyone receiving such a demand should end the call and contact the relevant clerk through information obtained independently from an official government website.
The Santa Rosa County Clerk lists its juror department at 850-981-5642 and its main information line at 850-981-5554.