The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in connection with an ongoing fraud scheme commonly referred to as the “jury duty scam.”
Beginning in 2025, multiple Rowan County residents reported receiving phone calls from individuals impersonating deputies or officials with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
During those calls, victims were reportedly told they had missed a scheduled court appearance for jury duty and faced arrest unless they paid a “civil fee”, which some reported as being $750. Victims were instructed to send payment electronically through platforms such as PayPal or Apple Pay. In several cases, victims only later discovered the calls were fraudulent after speaking with family members or contacting the sheriff’s office directly.
According to information from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, detectives launched an extensive investigation, analyzing financial transactions and digital evidence provided by victims. Through that work, investigators identified a network tied to activity originating from a correctional facility in Georgia, where inmates were reportedly using contraband cell phones to carry out the scam and facilitate the movement of funds tied to ongoing criminal activity.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
As a result of the investigation, Samya Sharnae Kelly, 20, of Waynesboro, Georgia, has been charged with obtaining property by false pretenses and two counts of money laundering.
Investigators believe Kelly is only one part of a larger operation, and the investigation remains active.
In a release, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office wished to remind the public that law enforcement will never contact individuals by phone to demand payment or request money to avoid arrest. Citizens who receive similar calls are encouraged to hang up immediately and report the incident to their local law enforcement agency.
