On February 16, 2026, the Sandy Springs Police Department in Georgia arrested 21-year-old Bryan Jesean Jackson and 19-year-old Jaell Draughn for helping facilitate a “jury duty” scam alongside 36-year-old Demarco Butler, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder. How their scam worked was:
- Butler facilitated calls through the use of a contraband cell phone and posed as a deputy from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and threaten to have his victim arrested for missing jury duty.
- In order to avoid being “arrested,” the victim, in this case an 80-year-old widow, was asked to withdraw $38,000 from her bank account and hand it off to designated couriers, or money mules.
- Once the money is collected, the scammer will ask for additional funds to be sent electronically through platforms like Zelle.
The two have since been charged with theft by extortion, exploitation of an elderly person and impersonating a public officer. Draughn has since been released on bond, and a third suspect is reportedly on the run.