Promise of Free Stimulus Money Leads to Nearly 40 Arrests
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Updated: 10:31 PM Nov 4, 2009
Promise of Free Stimulus Money Leads to Nearly 40 Arrests
Consumer protection groups are routinely warning Americans about scams promising free stimulus money. Tuesday, several dozen Panhandle residents fell for a stimulus money scam, but that was actually a good thing.
Posted: 9:31 PM Nov 4, 2009
Reporter: Matt de Nesnera
Email Address: matthew.denesnera@wjhg.com
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51-year-old Clarence Polite was first through the door Wednesday morning for the promise of free stimulus money. Polite was wanted on violation of probation charges. The Bay County resident was one of 39 people arrested in Wednesday's warrant sting.

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen says, "Bad guys should worry about what's going on in law enforcement. They shouldn't be able to walk around and not worry about being arrested."

It's called "Operation Bailout," adopted by Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen after he saw a cable news channel story about a similar sting operation out of south Florida.

Authorities created a phony agency called "Northwest Florida Stimulus Coalition Bailout," complete with a bogus web site. They compiled a list of people in Bay, Gulf and Jackson counties with outstanding warrants over the last six months.

Those people received a letter saying they'd been selected to receive $653 in free undeclared stimulus money. They just needed to call and confirm their appointment. The operation set-up in the old Bay County Supervisor of Elections' office Wednesday.

Sheriff McKeithen says, "Here, we were able to control every single thing that happened, from the number of people we let in the door to the number of officers involved."

Authorities were positioned outside the building to track down anybody who tried to flee. They would arrest the suspect in what appeared to be a routine traffic stop. Additionally, they staged fake construction workers outside to mask any noise coming from inside the building.

29-year-old Tasha Harrison, of Jackson County, was wanted on aggravated battery charges. Authorities say she walked in with a gram of cocaine.

The signs out front even attracted "walk-ins." Johnnie Casey drove to the facility without a license. He was arrested hours after his release from prison in Taylor County.

Sheriff McKeithen says, "A lot of them are not rocket scientists, anyway. So, money is one of the roots of all evil."

While some said they knew it was too good to be true, it didn't stop them from showing up and walking out in cuffs.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Dana Location: Panama City on Nov 8, 2009 at 06:44 PM

Way to go BCSO! I am confused as to why anyone would have a problem with the way these CRIMIALS are arrested? I am sure the victims of thier crimes are not bothered! Good Job Sheriff Frank!! Civil rights?!?!?!Fraud? lol...wow
Posted by: Becky Owens Location: Graceville, Florida32440 on Nov 5, 2009 at 10:57 PM

I just don't understand it you had these people address why not go and have them served. The money you have spend to set all this up when you should have had them served by the department and taking in but another thing how can you hold these people and not charge them you only have 24 hours to charge them are let them out. Should they have 1st appears and bond be seet. Something about all this is going against there civil rights.
Posted by: ashley Location: panama city on Nov 5, 2009 at 05:17 PM

this stuff was so stupid i know a bunch of people who seen it on t.v. and didnt get tricked into getting arrested the police are always having everyone do their jobs for them they need to work for the people that dont obey the law and not pay other people to tell on them for them thats just so wrong bay county justice system is screwed up completely
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