Kerwin Kerr
Shanna Kerr
In a news release, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office says their Special Operations Group (SOG) and Criminal Investigations Division (CID) conducted a joint operation with Agents from the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to arrest a courier of an international criminal conspiracy scammer ring.
On June 24th, DCSO CID became aware of an international criminal conspiracy scammer ring that was targeting an individual they thought was an elderly Douglas County woman.
The DCSO worked cooperatively with federal partners to further the investigation.
Investigators say initially, the scam ring became aware of their target, who they believed to be an elderly woman, through a social media profile.
This profile made her appear as a single vulnerable adult with wealth.
The scammers contacted the profile claiming to be with the ‘American Cash Awards Mega Millions Sweepstakes Lottery Company.’
The scammer, purported to be with the lottery company, also claimed to be a Central Intelligence Agency agent and informed the victim’s profile that in order to collect her prize winnings, she would need to pay $473,000 in fees and taxes.
Ultimately, the alleged scam group agreed to send a courier to Douglas County to meet with the elderly victim to collect her fees and taxes.
The victim was informed that a CIA agent named “Kahreem” would be meeting her in a parking lot near 129th and W. Maple Rd. at 10:30 am on June 30th.
Upon meeting the victim, the courier would provide her the code word “Kahreem” and collect her money.
DCSO SOG investigators set up surveillance on the parking lot and stationed themselves around the vehicle driven by an individual posing as the victim.
After the courier, later identified as 46-year-old Kerwin Kerr, arrived, identified himself to the victim, and took possession of the box containing the money he was taken into custody.
His wife, 44-year-old Shanna Kerr, was also in his vehicle and was taken into custody.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a loaded handgun, marijuana, and United States and Jamaican currency. Both suspects, residents of East Saint Louis, Illinois, were booked into the Douglas County Department of Corrections on felony charges.
(Pictures from Douglas County Sheriff's Office)