Adams County woman taken for over $16,000 by alleged 'sheriff's office' scammers

Three individuals around the country were charged by Pennsylvania State Police after allegedly scamming an Adams County woman out of over $16,000 by impersonating the Franklin County Sheriff's office, according to court documents.

Lewis Bodie, 65, of New York City, and Robert Lewis, 34, of East Chicago, Indiana, were charged with a felony count of theft by deception and a misdemeanor count of impersonating a public servant, according to charges filed on June 28, 2024.

Stephanie McFall, 34, of Cartersville, Georgia, was also charged with a felony count of theft by deception related to the case, according to charges filed on June 28, 2024.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, on Jan. 12, 2024, police were called to a home to take a theft report from a Latimore Township resident.

The victim told officers that on Jan. 12 at 9:44 a.m., she received a call that appeared to be from the phone number of the Franklin County Sheriff's office.

When the victim answered, the victim was told by a man claiming to be "Deputy Benjamin Sites" that she had been scheduled to appear as an "expert witness" in court, and that due to her missing her appearance, she must pay fines or face jail time.

Then, the caller claimed, "a way most people pay the fines is through wire transfers."

The victim was directed to a grocery store on Natural Springs Road in Straban Township, where she was told to use a "Coin Me" kiosk to make four transactions.

The victim made a $6,200 transaction at 11 a.m., a $7,629 transaction at 11:43 a.m., a $410 transaction at 11:51 a.m., and a $2,000 transaction at 12:39 a.m., according to the affidavit, for a total of $16,239.

When the victim attempted to send the transactions, the kiosk asked for the phone number of where the funds were being sent, and for a verification number to confirm the funds, according to the affidavit.

During that, the affidavit states, the caller told the victim several phone numbers, and provided the verification codes.

After the transactions were finalized, the caller told the victim that she was on a "hush order" and was no longer needed and hung up.

When the victim attempted to call the phone number that had called her, her phone connected to the actual Franklin County Sheriff's Office, which told the victim she had been deceived and needed to report the theft.

On May 28, 2024, a search warrant was completed for the Coin Me accounts, which led officers to Bodie, McFall and Lewis.

Coin Me verifies personal information in the accounts, including Social Security numbers, the affidavit states.

The affidavit does not state how the three suspects knew each other.