A Florida Keys couple reported losing $6,500 to callers posing as jail employees in a supposed release arrangement for their son. A subsequent demand for more money raised their suspicions and led them to contact police.
The investigation led Monroe County detectives to Johnay Monique Barnett, 38, of Roswell, Georgia. A newly obtained sheriff’s booking record confirms she was arrested on Oct. 13, 2026, on a grand theft charge.
The parents lived in Key Haven, near Key West, but the callers claimed to represent the Seminole County Jail in Central Florida.
Detectives traced the suspected fraud with help from banks and Georgia law enforcement agencies, ultimately obtaining an arrest warrant. Barnett’s case remains pending.
Fake Jail Callers Collected $6,500, Then Asked for Another $9,000
In December 2025, the couple received calls from people saying they worked for the Seminole County Jail. The callers claimed the parents’ son had been arrested and that his release required an electronic ankle monitor, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
The purported jail employees requested $6,500, which the couple transferred through Zelle, according to CBS Miami. After that payment, the callers returned with a demand for an additional $9,000.
The parents refused to send more money, stopped communicating with the callers and reported the incident to law enforcement.
Bank Surveillance and Police Video Helped Identify a Georgia Suspect
Monroe County detectives worked with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlanta Police Department, the Alpharetta Police Department and financial institutions. Investigators reviewed bank transaction records and surveillance footage while tracing the alleged fraud, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
They also used body-camera footage from earlier investigations involving similar fraudulent activity. The combined records helped detectives establish probable cause for Barnett’s arrest. The public account does not establish that she personally made the impersonation calls.
Official Booking Record Confirms $30,000 Bond and Grand Theft Charge
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrest database identifies Barnett as 38 and lists an Oct. 13, 2026, arrest under number MCSO26ARR002090. The booking entry records one felony count of grand theft involving $5,000 or more but less than $10,000, along with a $30,000 bond. Its related offense number is MCSO25OFF008216.
Under Florida Statute 812.014(2)(c)2, that value bracket is a third-degree felony. Florida’s sentencing law generally allows up to five years in prison for a third-degree felony, although no sentence has been imposed in this case.
PEOPLE reported an Oct. 29 court appearance. Barnett is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
How to Verify a Jail-Release Demand Before Sending Money
Anyone receiving an unexpected call about a relative’s arrest should contact that person or the jail independently, using a number from the agency’s official website rather than the caller’s instructions. The Federal Trade Commission warns that people impersonating law enforcement may use authentic officer names, personal information and spoofed caller IDs to make demands seem legitimate.
For a suspicious Zelle payment, immediately contact the bank or credit union that sent the money, provide the transfer information and ask about scam recovery or reimbursement. Zelle’s reporting guidance explains that reimbursement depends on the circumstances and is not guaranteed for every payment. Preserve transaction confirmations, call logs and messages, then report suspected impersonation fraud to local police and the FTC’s ReportFraud website.