A South Carolina woman wanted for allegedly participating in a phone scam in which the caller member to be a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department member was arrested, Manheim Township Police said Monday.
Veronica Anntonette Oliva, 36, of Columbia, South Carolina, was arrested in her home state and extradited to Lancaster County on Sunday, according to the police department.
Related posts
She faces charges of dealing in the proceeds of illegal acts, theft by deceit, criminal conspiracy to commit theft by deception, and receiving stolen goods.
According to police, on Jan. 30, a victim reported receiving a call from a man identifying himself as “Sgt. Dean Mitchell” and claiming to be the sheriff.
According to authorities, the individual on the phone informed them that the victim had a warrant for missing jury duty and allegedly urged them to withdraw $12,000 from their bank account to pay a charge in order to escape arrest.
Despite lacking an open warrant and neglecting jury duty, the victim reportedly withdrew the money and placed it in a Bitcoin ATM. Once the authorities delivered the stolen Bitcoin to the Bitcoin wallets, an officer successfully traced the transactions.
Police traced the Bitcoin account and discovered that Oliva owned it. The victim apparently refused to pay Oliva and had no prior knowledge of or communication with her.
Miles K. Bixler arraigned Oliva and committed her to Lancaster County Prison on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is planned for March 26, according to court documents.
