WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Eight people, including three Polk County residents, are accused in an over $8.8 million scheme that targeted 235 victims across various states in the U.S., according to sheriff’s officials.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was joined by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and detectives from other state police departments during a news conference Wednesday morning announcing the arrests.
The following were arrested as part of the investigation, which began in April 2023, according to the sheriff’s office:
- Barbara Frazee, of West Virginia: She was taken into custody in West Virginia on a Polk County warrant and is now being held in the Polk County Jail on $260,000 bond.
- Camala Shafer, of Maryland: She was released from the Polk County Jail on June 30, 2025, after posting $10,000 bond.
- Antonio Penn, of Maryland: He was arrested on a Polk County warrant by the Maryland State Police and is now being held in the Polk County Jail on $1,020,000 bond.
- Okeroghene Akushe, of Missouri: He is being held in the Polk County Jail on $760,000 bond.
- Michael Nevarez, of Lakeland: He is being held in the Polk County Jail on $425,000 bond.
- Roshado Durrant, of Lakeland: He is being held in the Polk County Jail on no bond.
- Hassan Phillips, of Maryland: He was arrested in Maryland on his Polk warrant and is now being held in the Polk County Jail on $1,010,000 bond.
- Kevin Clayton, of Lakeland: He was arrested in California on a Polk County warrant and is now on an ICE hold in the Polk County Jail.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the victims were mainly targeted due to being elderly.
Judd said three of the suspects were bank employees in Maryland who had access to the stolen account information.
All eight of the suspects were arrested and face charges of racketeering.
Watch the full news conference below: