Atlanta Woman Charged in Bitcoin Scam Linked to Georgia Prisons

Annie Ashley, a 61-year-old Atlanta woman, has been extradited to Florida and charged in connection with a $15,000 bitcoin scam that targeted residents across the country. According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the scam involves callers pretending to be law enforcement officials who demand payment in bitcoin for outstanding warrants or other alleged infractions.

Chitwood said that in one case, a DeLand woman paid $15,000 after receiving such a call, with half of the funds tracked to an account belonging to Ashley. However, investigators were able to recover around $12,000 in the case.

The scam is linked to a broader investigation into a ring operating out of two Georgia prisons: Wheeler Correctional Institution and Calhoun State Prison. Chitwood expressed frustration with Georgia officials for not doing enough to stop the scams, saying it would be 'nice if they woke up' to the issue.