Georgia Inmates Lance Riddle and Joey Jackson Sentenced for Jury-Duty Warrant Scam Run From Prison

Published Oct. 22, 2026. Case status is current as of that date.

The call appeared to come from the local police department. The caller said there were warrants out for missing jury duty, that the only way to clear them was to pay a bond right away, usually in gift cards, and that talking about it with anyone would lead to immediate arrest. Federal prosecutors say those calls were actually coming from inside a Georgia state prison.

Two inmates at Calhoun State Prison have now been sentenced to federal prison for running the scheme. Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands sentenced Lance Riddle, aka "C-Port," to 200 months and Joey Amour Jackson to 120 months on Oct. 14, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced on Oct. 16 [1].

Status: Both men were found guilty on Jan. 9, after a five-day trial (the release does not state the year), of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both have been sentenced. Restitution will be set within 90 days [1].

The sentences

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office [1]:

• Lance Riddle: 200 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, to run consecutively to any state sentence.
• Joey Amour Jackson: 120 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, to run consecutively to any state sentence.

"There is no parole in the federal system," the office noted.

How the scam worked

FBI agents in Columbus, Georgia, got reports from police agencies in Colorado, Florida, Virginia, Nevada, California and Ohio about wire fraud traced to Georgia inmates. According to court documents and trial evidence, as described by prosecutors [1]:

1. Spoofed police numbers. Inmates including Jackson and Riddle used contraband cell phones and internet calling (VoIP) "to contact victims from a number that mirrored the numbers of their local police departments."
2. Fake warrants. Victims were told they had one or more arrest warrants for missing jury duty.
3. A "bond" by phone. The callers, posing as officers, said the warrants would be cleared if the victim paid a bond over the phone, and that otherwise they would be arrested immediately.
4. A "gag order." Victims were told they couldn't talk about the warrants until the bond was paid, or they would be arrested.
5. Gift cards. Victims were "almost always instructed to buy gift cards and read the numbers off the back of the cards," though some sent wire transfers.
6. A trip to the station. After paying, victims were told to drive to their local police department to "verify their signature on the bond."

Prosecutors say the callers impersonated both made-up officers and real officers from victims' own local departments. Co-conspirators outside the prison managed the group's financial accounts, and the money went to personal debts such as house and vehicle loans, and to buy drugs [1].

The scheme went further for some victims. Prosecutors say some were told that, because of "heightened courthouse security," they had to go to a local Target store restroom, undress and record themselves performing a "self-conducted cavity search" before verifying their signature. Some later received "lewd and sexually explicit messages, including violent threats." The scheme "primarily targeted female professionals with prominent online profiles," though some men were also targeted [1].

Documented losses topped $464,920 from 119 victims nationwide. Prosecutors said the true number "is likely much higher as many cases go unreported, are not fully investigated, or are concealed by victims who are too embarrassed to come forward" [1].

"Not even prison cells prevented these criminals from harming dozens of innocent people," said Marlo Graham, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta [1].

Red flags

• A call about a warrant for missed jury duty that can be cleared right now if you pay over the phone. That is the script prosecutors described in this case.
• Caller ID showing your local police department. Scammers can spoof it.
• Demands for gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or payment apps to pay a "bond" or "fine."
• A "gag order" or threat of arrest if you tell anyone or hang up.
• Any instruction to undress, record yourself or send images as part of "security" or "verification." No legitimate agency asks for this.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Hang up. Call your local police or the court clerk using a number you look up yourself, not one the caller gives you.
2. Never read gift card numbers to anyone over the phone. If you already did, contact the card issuer right away; sometimes funds can be frozen.
3. Don't be embarrassed to report it. Prosecutors in this case said many victims never come forward. Report to local police and to the FBI at ic3.gov [2].
4. If you received threats or explicit messages, save them, report them to police and report the account to the platform where they were sent.
5. Warn family members, especially anyone with a public professional profile online.

Case status (as of Oct. 22, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 22, 2026	Source
Lance Riddle, aka "C-Port"	U.S. District Court, M.D. Ga.	Found guilty at trial Jan. 9 (year not stated in release; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering); sentenced Oct. 14, 2026, to 200 months + 3 years supervised release, consecutive to any state sentence; restitution to be set within 90 days	[1]
Joey Amour Jackson	U.S. District Court, M.D. Ga.	Found guilty at trial Jan. 9 (same counts); sentenced Oct. 14, 2026, to 120 months + 3 years supervised release, consecutive to any state sentence; restitution to be set within 90 days	[1]

Statuses can change. Those not convicted are presumed innocent.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia, "Georgia Inmates Sentenced in Police‑Impersonation Jury‑Duty Call Scheme," Oct. 16, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/georgia-inmates-sentenced-police-impersonation-jury-duty-call-scheme
2. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (accessed Oct. 22, 2026). https://www.ic3.gov/

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