St. Mary Parish Sheriff Gary Driskell has announced the arrest of a second suspect connected to a phone scam that targeted local residents by impersonating personnel with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
According to Sheriff Driskell, 24-year-old Dechariah Keiasha Charmea Johnson of Woodbury, Georgia, was booked into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on May 27, 2026, at approximately 12:39 p.m. Johnson was arrested on warrants for bank fraud and attempted theft. Her bail has been set at $300,000.
Johnson’s arrest follows the earlier arrest of 22-year-old Donovan Kobie Baptiste of Valdosta, Georgia. Baptiste was taken into custody on April 29, 2026, and charged with bank fraud, fraudulent portrayal of law enforcement, fraud-access device, and theft. Authorities say Baptiste was extradited to St. Mary Parish and later released on a $25,000 bond.
The investigation began after victims reported receiving phone calls from an individual claiming to be “Sergeant Michael Thomas” with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. Investigators say the caller used accurate personal information about the victims and their families, including names, birthdays, and home addresses, to make the scam appear legitimate.
During the calls, the suspects allegedly claimed that a family member had been arrested and needed a $7,000 bond for release. Victims were then transferred to another individual posing as a bail bondsman, who instructed them to send a 10 percent down payment of $700 through digital payment platforms such as CashApp, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
Authorities say one victim became suspicious of the aggressive tactics being used and contacted the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center directly. Deputies confirmed the calls were fraudulent and that the family member referenced by the callers was not in custody.
Detectives later traced the digital evidence to Georgia. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested Baptiste on the St. Mary Parish warrant before he was transported to Louisiana for booking.
As the investigation continued, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Johnson. She was later apprehended and held at the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center until deputies with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office transported her back to Louisiana.
“Scammers are ever busy trying to trick our citizens out of their hard-earned money,” Sheriff Gary Driskell said. “Legitimate law enforcement and judicial agencies will never call to solicit bond payments over the phone using CashApp, PayPal, gift cards, or similar payment methods. If you receive a suspicious call involving a loved one allegedly in custody, hang up and contact us directly using a verified phone number.”
Sheriff Driskell also praised the victims for their quick actions, saying their awareness helped investigators disrupt the scam operation. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office also thanked the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office for assisting in the investigation.
The investigation remains active, and additional arrests are expected.
