3 arrests, 19 felony counts in Walmart phone kiosks identity fraud scam

A Jonesboro man is in jail on 19 felony counts of financial identity fraud after orchestrating a scam run from a cell phone kiosk at the Walmart stores in Peachtree City and Newnan. The scam claimed more than 60 victims in Fayette and Coweta counties.

Curtis C. Ferguson, 30, was charged on Dec. 6 with 19 counts of felony financial identity fraud spanning nearly three months beginning in June, according to Fayette County Jail records.

Peachtree City Police Department spokesman Brad Williams said Ferguson recruited two employees of a cell phone kiosk at the Walmart stores in Peachtree City and Newnan to be a part of the scam. After the recent fire at the Peachtree City store, the scam continued to operate at the Newnan location.

The employees were Jaylen Warmack, 24, of Peachtree City, charged with 13 counts of financial identity fraud and Justin Knight, 31, of Newnan, charged with six counts of financial identity fraud, Williams said.

Beyond the two kiosk employees, Williams said Ferguson hired others to visit the kiosk, pretending to be a customer wanting to purchase a phone. Having been illegally provided with personal identity information on the unwitting victim, the “customer” would purchase the phone.

Once the fraudulent purchase was made, the phones were re-sold, and with those involved in the scam getting a cut, Williams noted.

In all, there were more than 60 victims in the Fayette and Coweta area, said Williams.

Additional charges relating to the scam activities are being brought by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.