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Inmate Sentenced for Operating Fake Jury Duty Money Laundering Scheme from Georgia State Prison
ATLANTA – Reginald Perkins, an inmate at Autry State Prison in Pelham, Georgia, has been sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison for laundering $1 million in fraud proceeds arising from a ‘jury duty’ telemarketing scam conducted by inmates at Georgia state prisons.
The scam involved inmates using contraband cellular telephones to call potential victims, claiming they had failed to appear for jury duty and owed fines to have the warrants dismissed. The victims were instructed to purchase pre-paid cash cards and provide the account number or wire money directly into a pre-paid debit card account held by the inmates.
According to U.S. Attorney John Horn, Perkins laundered the fraud proceeds while incarcerated at Autry State Prison. Inmates regularly obtained cellular telephones while serving their sentences at Autry, which is a medium security prison housing approximately 1,700 adult male inmates.
From 2014 to 2015, officials seized more than 23,500 cellular telephones from inside Georgia state prisons. Many of the seized cellular telephones possessed Internet capabilities and the latest smartphone features.
Perkins admitted to taking the account number of the pre-paid cash card and contacting his co-conspirators to have them transfer the money from the cash card to a pre-paid debit card possessed by the co-conspirators. The co-conspirators then withdrew the funds.
U.S. Attorney Horn said, ‘Prisons should be the one place where we have confidence that multi-million-dollar telemarketing schemes are not being conducted.’ He emphasized that cases like this highlight the need for increased security measures to prevent inmates from accessing cell phones and engaging in fraudulent activities.
The FBI will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to address inmate-based crimes and prevent inmates’ access to cell phones that provide the means to harm the unsuspecting public, said J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant/Respondent: Reginald Perkins
- Criminal Charges: Money Laundering
- City and State: Atlanta, Georgia
- Exact Date: Not specified (sentencing date not provided)
- Sentence or Outcome: 12 years and 7 months in prison
- Dollar Amounts: $1 million
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Cybercrime|White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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