Alachua Police Department honored in Washington, D.C. for multi-agency fraud investigation

Staff report based on release from Alachua Police Department

ALACHUA, Fla. – The Alachua Police Department, with key contributions from Lieutenant Jason Moses and Detective Jacob Eady (employed with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office at the time), played a pivotal role in a multi-agency effort to dismantle a nationwide fraud scheme.

Working alongside Amtrak OIG, Amtrak Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the team investigated and apprehended two career criminals, Korey Wise and Colby Frazier. These individuals targeted minority-owned businesses, stole credit card information, and exploited at-risk youth to commit fraud, resulting in over $500,000 in losses to Amtrak and Trailways.

Through advanced surveillance, undercover operations, and collaboration across state lines, the investigation led to the safe arrests of both suspects and the recovery of stolen funds. This award celebrates their exceptional skill, teamwork, and dedication to justice.

According to a release from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, Wise called small business owners who spoke English as a second language and pretended to be a representative of a utility company calling to collect overdue bills or an official from a licensing board that oversaw nail salons. He would tell the business owners they owed an inspection fee that would be reduced if they paid over the telephone with a credit card. He then used the credit card information to purchase tickets on Amtrak and Trailways, fraudulently purchasing almost $476,000 in tickets over three years. He was sentenced in January to 51 months in prison, followed by two years of probation.