Yulee, Fla. – The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office re-arrested Anthony William Gerhold, 41, from Jacksonville, Florida on additional counts of Schemes to Defraud and Exploitation of an Elderly Person.
Mr. Gerhold was impersonating a sub-contractor for Dish Network Satellite Company and targeting Dish Network customers. Mr. Gerhold would approach individuals at their home claiming he was a representative for Dish Support Company, a sub-contractor for Dish Network Satellite trying to convince current Dish customers to upgrade their services for approximately $700-$900. If victims would sign a contract with him along with payment, then the next three months of their satellite service would be free.
Mr. Gerhold would tell the victims that they would continue to receive a monthly bill from Dish, but just to ignore it because the first three months would be free and it would be corrected in their billing department. After the victims would receive late payment bills and Dish Network advised that their service would be canceled for non-payment they contacted Dish Network directly and were informed the contract they signed was fraudulent and Dish never received any payment for satellite service or repair.
Mr. Gerhold also would provide an 800 number to call if his customers/victims had any concerns or complaints. Mr. Gerholds wife, Crystal Denise Gerhold, 31, would disguise herself as the customer service representative further scheming and defrauding the individuals. Mr. Gerhold bonded out of jail after his first arrest of seven counts of Schemes to Defraud and Exploitation of an Elderly Person and failed to show for his court appearance.
After additional Nassau County victims came forward to make a report, a nationwide warrant was issued on June 27th for the arrest of both suspects. They were captured in Little Rock, Arkansas on July 19th. They were transported back to the Nassau County Jail where they were booked on July 25th.
“These suspects came into Nassau County and took advantage of our most vulnerable, trustworthy and decent hard-working citizens with their slick fraudulent sales pitch. They need to learn a lesson that we won’t tolerate it” said Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper.
There have been at least thirty-three known individuals victimized so far in Nassau County. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scheme, please contact NCSO at 904-225-5174.
