In Prince George’s County, Maryland, authorities are cracking down on a notorious "pigeon drop" scam with the arrest of William Coleman, 51, from Orange Park. Coleman stands accused of defrauding victims by soliciting money or valuables in exchange for a share of a larger sum of money. His arrest, made possible through joint efforts by law enforcement agencies, comes after an investigation into nine reported pigeon drop scams in the county in 2023.
Charged in connection with two cases, Coleman allegedly targeted vulnerable individuals, primarily females and senior citizens. In one instance, he and his cohorts managed to swindle thousands of dollars from a victim, while in another, the scam was thwarted before any money changed hands. Both incidents occurred in Maryland, with one successful theft taking place in District Heights and an attempted one in Mitchellville.
Following meticulous detective work, Coleman was identified as a suspect, leading to his apprehension in Orange County. Subsequent search warrants yielded substantial evidence, including counterfeit cash totaling over $100,000 found at his residence. Additionally, investigators discovered incriminating items such as fake letters from non-existent law firms and a bandana-wrapped newspaper—a common tactic used by scammers to swap out money withdrawn by victims from their bank accounts.
Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department emphasized the collaborative effort involved in Coleman's arrest and underscored the department's commitment to protecting residents from such predatory schemes. He also indicated that Coleman likely had accomplices and that investigations are ongoing to determine if he is connected to similar crimes elsewhere on the East Coast.
Sheriff Michelle Cook of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office praised the teamwork between agencies, highlighting the significance of Coleman's arrest in preventing further victimization. Coleman currently remains in custody in Florida awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County, where he will face charges for his alleged involvement in the pigeon drop scams.