Gwinnett County, Georgia – Gwinnett County deputies arrested a suspect accused of a $1,350 jury duty phone scam.
According to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, investigators with the agency’s Jail Intelligence Unit and Warrant Unit arrested Garrett Thompson on March 5, 2026, following a report from a resident who said they had been contacted by someone impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Authorities say the caller allegedly identified himself as “Officer Shepherd” and told the victim there was an issue with their jury duty status. The caller reportedly instructed the victim to pay $1,350 or turn himself in to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.
Believing the request was legitimate, the victim sent the money to a phone number provided by the caller.
Investigators later determined that the phone number used in the transaction allegedly belonged to Thompson, who reportedly confirmed he had received the funds.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies with the Warrant Unit located Thompson and arrested him without incident.
Officials say scams involving fake jury duty enforcement calls continue to target residents by creating a sense of urgency and threatening legal consequences if payment is not made immediately.
The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that law enforcement will never request payment over the phone to resolve jury duty matters or other legal issues.
Residents who receive suspicious calls are encouraged to hang up and report the incident to their local law enforcement agency.
For students, young workers, and others new to jury service, officials say verifying requests directly with the court or sheriff’s office can help prevent falling victim to similar scams.
Anyone wishing to submit a tip to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office can call 770-619-6655 or visit GwinnettCountySheriff.org.
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