An Atlanta woman and an Alabama man were charged Wednesday with theft by deception in a “pigeon drop” scam foiled by Fayetteville detectives.
Marie Mangham, 74, of Atlanta, and Juan A. Jackson, 57, of Birmingham, Ala., were each charged with theft by deception, according to Fayetteville Police spokesman Mike Whitlow.
“This kind of thing doesn’t happen,” said Whitlow, commenting of the way the arrested occurred. “These people are ghosts and you never catch anybody in the act.”
As it turned out, Fayetteville investigators were conducting surveillance activities in the area of the ALDI and Lowe’s stores on Ga. Highway 85 North when one of the investigators spotted a suspicious vehicle, said Whitlow.
The vehicle was followed a short distance away to the ALDI grocery store where the female victim in her 70’s was in the parking lot.
It was a typical “pigeon drop” scam, Whitlow said. A pigeon drop scam is one where the “pigeon,” often an elderly person, is approached with a bag or envelope supposedly full of lost money yet actually containing only a small amount of money to deceive the victim. The perpetrator/s approach the victim claiming to have found the money and offer, again supposedly in good faith, to share the proceeds if the victim will provide money of their own as a token of good faith.
Whitlow said Jackson approached the victim with Mangham following behind. The victim was shown a bag containing a sum of money which, said Whitlow, was actually “flash cash,” fake money wrapped in stacks with real bills on either side.
The three proceeded to the Lowe’s parking lot where Jackson said he had a friend who was a lawyer with whom they could consult on what course of action to take with the newly found money.
Mangham and Jackson soon left the area with the victim in her car heading north on Hwy. 85 with the idea of going to the victim’s bank to withdraw a sum of money that would show her “good faith,” Whitlow said.
But investigators closed in and stopped the vehicle in the area of Corinth Road. Jackson and Mangham were subsequently taken into custody, interviewed and charged.
“Neither was remorseful. They felt sorry for themselves and not for the victim,” said Whitlow, then noting an additional comment pertaining to Mangham. “She’s a pro. She’s been doing this a long time.”
