The Amite County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a third suspect believed to be involved in a scam that swindled thousands of dollars from a Gillsburg man who had been told he inherited an amusement park.
Pike County sheriff’s deputies served a warrant Wednesday and arrested 32-year-old Michelle N. Johnson, 1003 Wilson St. Ext., McComb.
Johnson was then extradited to Amite County, where she was booked on two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Amite Sheriff Tim Wroten said Johnson worked the scam with Tori Desion Leggett, 25, of Hattiesburg, and Karen Alexander, 38, of Magnolia, both of whom are in custody and face similar charges.
The three suspects allegedly developed a scheme involving a fake inheritance following the recent death of one of the victim’s relatives.
Wroten said the suspects convinced the victim to give them money under the pretense that the man would inherit an amusement park.
Legget was arrested Oct. 11 in Hattiesburg, where he allegedly fled once deputies started looking for him, and Alexander turned herself in on Sept. 20. The case, however, is still open. Deputies are methodically tracking down all who may have been involved in the scam.
“It may be one more,” Wroten said. “It’s just frustrating that it’s taking so long.”
