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Hilliard Man Who Pretended to be Bounty Hunter & Federal Agent Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Kidnapping, Other Crimes
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Shane Ryan Hammond, 27, of Hilliard, Ohio, is trading the tactical gear for an orange jumpsuit. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $48,000 in restitution after being convicted of impersonating a federal agent, kidnapping, wire fraud, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley, following a joint announcement from U.S. Attorneys Benjamin C. Glassman (Southern District of Ohio) and Michael B. Stewart (Southern District of West Virginia), alongside FBI Special Agent in Charge Todd A. Wickerham.
From at least March 2016 through May 2017, Hammond ran a sham operation called “Midwest Fugitive Task Force” out of Columbus. Posing as “Commander” or “Lieutenant Hammond,” he actively sought contracts as a bail recovery agent, despite lacking any legitimate licensing. Court documents reveal Hammond knowingly kidnapped at least nine individuals, claiming a reward for their return to jail. The vast majority were legitimate “bail skips,” and Hammond was contracted by bail bondsmen in West Virginia to bring them in. But the legality ended there.
Hammond’s MO was intimidation, plain and simple. He routinely decked himself out in all-black tactical gear, a ballistic vest, multiple handguns, throwing knives, and a Taser. He sported law enforcement-style badges with ‘SWAT’ patches and a large ‘AGENT’ back patch – all a carefully constructed facade. One incident in May 2017 saw Hammond forcibly enter a grandmother’s home in Columbus, AK-47 raised, and taser an individual he was pursuing. He kicked a drink and threatened the victim with violence if they “did anything stupid.”
The brazenness continued in Canton, Ohio, in September 2016. Hammond, while searching for a woman, handcuffed her mother after bursting into their home and leveling a rifle at her. He falsely claimed to be a Federal Bounty Hunter and informed her of her right to remain silent. He then cuffed the woman’s father, stating he’d be taken along to aid in the search, threatening to jail the mother if the father refused to cooperate. The father was held, handcuffed, overnight, and only released the following morning – still in restraints. During the drive, Hammond was pulled over for speeding and falsely claimed to be working for a federal agency.
Hammond didn’t just limit his lies to physical confrontations. He routinely misrepresented himself as affiliated with various federal agencies, including the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, Homeland Security, and as a general federal agent. In Cincinnati, March 2017, he warned a woman that “lying to a federal agent is a crime,” threatening her with four years in prison. He added, “Don’t get an attitude… I’m just letting you know if I come back and I find out you’re involved I’m going to arrest you.” Making false statements to a federal official is a crime carrying a potential five-year sentence – a fact Hammond freely used to intimidate.
The scheme extended to Jackson, Ohio, where Hammond falsely claimed to have a warrant for a fugitive involved in a shooting of a West Virginia police officer, attempting to strong-arm an apartment complex manager for information. This elaborate web of lies and violent intimidation has finally caught up to Hammond, who will now spend the next 15 years paying for his deception. The $48,000+ in restitution aims to cover the financial damages inflicted on his victims, but the psychological scars will likely linger far longer.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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