CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 20, 2012
BY: CHIEF GILL KENDRICK
Point of Contact: Captain Mike Holt @ 425-8493
Police Warn About Craigslist Owner-Financed Home Scam
The Jackson Police Department is currently seeking Joey Neil Morgan for Theft of Property over $1,000.
Morgan has been running a “contract for deed” scam on Craig’s List. Morgan “leases” homes for himself or from legitimate homeowners offering to find buyers to lease to own the home. He posts the home to Craigslist as an owner-financed home for sale with no credit or background check. Morgan takes deposits and collects rent promising that the renter will be purchasing the home and the owner will finance it. Meanwhile he is the only one getting money. This is fraud.
Morgan was arrested on August 3, 2012 for theft over $10,000 for alleged theft of a motor vehicle belonging to his former employer, a Jackson automobile dealer. He was released on bond and turned over to Dyer County Sheriff’s Department probation violation. He was released before he could be charged in the most recent incident.
Jackson Police Investigators have reason to believe there are other victims who have not reported the crime or realized yet that they are victims. If you are a Jackson resident, and believe you may be a victim of fraud by Morgan, contact Sgt. Marla Taylor or Inv. Paul White at the Jackson Police Department Financial Crimes Unit at 425-8400. Contact your local law enforcement agency if you live outside Jackson.
Morgan is a white male age 39 about 5’10” tall and 250 pounds with brown eyes and hair. He may have a goatee.
If you have any information on Morgan’s whereabouts, contact the Jackson Police Department or your local police. Call Crime Stoppers at 424-8477 or send a tip on the web at www.424TIPS.org. You can submit an anonymous tip both ways.
See also: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
