Beware of scam artists, including those empowered by disgraced St. Johns County's maladroit ex-Sheriff DAVID SHOAR, and his heirs. Under SHOAR's corrupt Reign of Error, some $786,785 was stolen. Criminal embezzlement took place, over more than five (years). One-party rule by Dull Republicans has consequences. Keystone Kops, corrupt coverups of crimes (see Michelle O'Connell, killed by Sheriff's Deputy JEREMY BANKS with his service weapon on September 2, 2010, et al.). It's our money.
From WJXT:
St. Johns County deputies warn of scam after victim paid $5,000 to alleged defense attorney
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is warning the community of a scam after a resident fell victim and gave thousands of dollars to a person alleging to be a defense attorney. According to deputies, the victim reported the incident on Monday when she said she was contacted by a stranger stating her daughter was in jail and needed $5,000 to bond out. The caller told the victim she would have a defense attorney named Matt Arnold meet her to get the money, so the woman retrieved the money from the bank and met the “defense attorney” at her house to give him the money, deputies said. The victim received the original call from 954-889-5513 and another call from Arnold at 305-600-4486.
The caller told the victim she would have a defense attorney named Matt Arnold meet her to get the money, so the woman retrieved the money from the bank and met the “defense attorney” at her house to give him the money, deputies said.
Arnold is described as a white man, in his 50s, with facial hair. He was wearing a T-shirt and Bermuda shorts, according to deputies.
The victim received the original call from 954-889-5513 and another call from Arnold at 305-600-4486.
The victim also said Arnold was driving a gray Ford sedan.
If you have any additional information related to this scam, please contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Intelligence Unit at sointelligence@siso.org or call 904-209-2188.
Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marcela Camargo
Marcela joined News4JAX in 2023. She grew up in Mexico and eventually moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. Now, she is a proud San Diego State University alumna who has many years of experience in TV and digital journalism.
Shoar had nothing to do with the embezzlement. They might not have been on top of oversight, but they did find the violation and Shoar didn't benefit from the embezzlement. If you're talking about the McConnell case though, you can suggest there was corruption but you've got to have more evidence. Also, Shoar did good things so not fair to sum up his time as sheriff as a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteLax internal controls under one-party rule here in corrupt St. Johns County violated the standard of care for more than five (5) years. This culture of corruption allowed the embezzler to prosper. Your facetious "non-denial denial"-- as the late Benjamin Crowninshield Bradlee would call it -- of DAVID SHOAR's Reign of Error ignores the facts. DAVID SHOAR's maladroit mismanagement allowed crimes and coverups to fester, undetected. You don't know the facts. Read the NY Times article? Seen the PBS Frontline story? I don't know of one "good thing" that DAVID SHOAR ever did for anyone, Who are you and what is the source of your opinion?
ReplyDeleteI don't have to source an opinion man if you don't agree with it then say so and move on. Source that he did nothing good as sheriff? He put his ass on the line just like everyone else and went to work everyday.
DeleteSHOAR HIRED the embezzler, promoted her and failed to supervise her. He selected another Sheriff's office to investigate and another State's Attorney to investigate. This should have been a federal case under federal law with federal investigators and under federal laws.
ReplyDeleteCorrupt would be him totally trying to cover it up, and him hiring the woman means nothing. She didn't have a criminal record and gave no sign upon hiring that she would embezzle money. You can make a case for poor supervision sure. As far as calling in the feds.. whatever you say. I don't know who in their right mind would bring feds into state government affairs when it probably wasn't necessary and didn't turn out to be necessary. They uncovered the act and sent her up the road. The end. Who the hell would call the feds on their own people? Not too many..
DeleteThe embezzler was not qualified for her job and should never have been hired -- just like nineteen year old JEREMY BANKS and other SHOAR hires. Internal controls were absent. Your hauteur and hostility to federal investigation of federal crimes makes me ask, once again, Who are you? Your statements are pregnant with the admission that there's corruption in St. Johns County and one-party rulers fear federal law, federal investigations, federal prosecutors and federal courts. Ipse dixit, you can't fix it. Who are you?
ReplyDeleteWhen you say SHOAR "went to work every day," what is your source? Is that an accomplishment? If he went to work and slept on his office couch does that count? You have not listed any accomplishments by SHOAR, whose major claim to fame as SAPD Chief was doing the bidding of City Manager WILLIAM BARRY HARRISS, arresting and rousting artists, musicians and buskers from St. George Street. Are you SHOAR? Saint Augustine said "an unjust law is no law at all." An unjust lawman is a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteSheriff DAVID SHOAR refused to provide body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras, stating in 2016 debate with former Deputy Deb Maynard that he rejects the "false narrative that cops need to be watched." During this time, an embezzler was stealing from our County, sitting only 25 feet from SHOAR's desk, chair and couch. Enough flummery, dupery and nincompoopery. One-party rule is wrong.
ReplyDeleteSHOAR was an unjust steward and a disgrace. His mishandling of the Michelle O'Connell case was especially vicious, issuing a press release accusing Michelle's family of "molesting" her body by arranging an exhumation and autopsy, which found her jaw was broken. The chief investigator for the State's Attorney, Robert A. Hardwick, now Sheriff, wanted an exhumation and autopsy, and arranged for a forensic dentist to do the examination. This never happened. Why? SHOAR got Hardwick admitted to the FBI academy earlier than expected. Meanwhile, State's Attorney RALPH JOSEPH LARIZZA belatedly recused himself five (5) months after the homicide. The case was reassigned to incurious special prosecutors. Two respected judges -- County Court Judge Charles Tinlin and federal judge Brian J. Davis, found there was probable cause JEREMY BANKS that killed Ms. O'Connell. No grand jury was ever asked to hear the evidence. Justice for Michelle O'Connell.
ReplyDeleteMost of the ways that conservatives think.. you also think that way you dried up old nut sack. Only on social issues are you any different than conservatives. I wouldn't be surprised if you were a paid troll for some SJC Republican. Even Republicans rip on each other so how are you different?
ReplyDelete