JACKSON — A north Mississippi resident has been arrested after authorities say she created a fundraising scam by pretending to be related to a 19-year-old woman who was burned to death earlier this month.
Janet Posey, 39, of Blue Springs, is charged with one count of attempted false pretense and one count of communications fraud, Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday.
Hood said his office was told that Posey had started an effort to raise money based on the burning death of Jessica Chambers in Panola County. Chambers’ death remains under investigation. She was found Dec. 6 near her burning car on a rural road, and was declared dead early Dec. 7 after being airlifted to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
In the investigation of Posey, an Internet service provider worked quickly with the attorney general’s office to get a physical address where the fundraising activity originated, Hood said at a news conference Thursday, according to The Clarion-Ledger .
“She was trying to get people to give money and acting as if she was a family member,” Hood said. “We got online, found her internet protocol address, she tried to cover it up. Our investigators will continue to work and see who else is involved.”
Posey was arrested Wednesday, and jail records show she was released on $40,000 bond late that night. It was not immediately clear whether she has an attorney.
Conviction on both charges would carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.