Four charged in ‘pigeon dropping’ scam targeting elderly in Maryland

Four suspects have been charged in Maryland for allegedly defrauding an elderly woman of nearly $40,000 a “pigeon drop” scam – a scheme in which thieves promise their victims a share of the “found” cash in exchange for collateral.

The suspects, James Davis, 77, Connie Williams, 64, and Kenneth Gooden, 36, all of Birmingham, Alabama, along with Mary Daniel, 59, of Antioch, Tennessee, were arrested moments before they allegedly targeted another victim Clinton had aimed, according to Prince George’s County Police Department.

The department said the incident began on October 21 outside a District Heights doing business on Marlboro Pike.

Two suspects approached the elderly woman, pretended to have discovered a bag of cash, and asked if it was hers.

They then convinced her to join them in ‘donating’ the money to charity – but with a twist. They persuaded her to withdraw money from her own account as ‘collateral’ to keep the alleged donation untraceable.

Over two days, the victim handed over nearly $40,000.

Using advanced investigative techniques, PGPD’s Financial Crimes Unit tracked the suspects to a shopping center in Clinton on October 24.

They were arrested after two of the suspects approached another elderly woman in a parking lot and allegedly attempted the same scheme.

Anyone with information about the suspects or who believes they may have been victims of the scam is encouraged to contact PGPD’s Financial Crimes Unit at 301-516-1464.