LEON COUNTY, Florida — A 56-year-old woman from Charleston, South Carolina, has been arrested for grand theft in connection with a jury-duty warrant scam that defrauded a Leon County woman out of thousands of dollars. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) initiated the investigation in September 2025 after receiving a report from the victim.
Details of the Scam and Arrest
According to the FDLE, the victim was deceived by a caller claiming she had missed jury duty and faced arrest unless she paid fines using Green Dot prepaid debit cards. Brenda Huggins, 56, was identified as the individual withdrawing the victim’s money from ATMs in Charleston. On February 10, 2026, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) executed a search warrant at Huggins’ residence in Charleston, and she was arrested by the Charleston Police Department.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Warning
The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit, and remains under active investigation. The FDLE is warning the public about the growing prevalence of impersonation scams, emphasizing that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not contact individuals by phone or email to demand payment or threaten arrest. Victims of scams are encouraged to report incidents to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.
