ATLANTA – Federal prosecutors in Atlanta say Georgia prison inmates used contraband cellphones to carry out financial fraud schemes from their cells.
In 13 indictments unsealed this week, federal prosecutors accuse 51 people of participating in the scheme. Among those indicted are 15 current or former correctional officers and 19 current or former inmates at Autry State Prison in Pelham.
The indictments say the inmates posed as law enforcement agents and called people around the country saying falsely that there was a warrant out for their arrest for missing jury duty.
Prosecutors say the inmates told the alleged victims they could be arrested or pay a fine. They directed people to buy prepaid cash cards and give them the number or to wire money to an inmate's prepaid debit card account.
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