A Georgia prison inmate is facing charges in Flagler County after detectives say he ran a phone-based fraud scheme from inside Dooly State Prison, impersonating a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputy to steal $1,000 from a Palm Coast resident.
The case began on March 12, 2026, when FCSO Community Policing Division deputies responded to a fraud report in Palm Coast. The victim told deputies they had sent two separate $500 payments to a person claiming to be “Officer Christopher Osorio with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.” The victim believed the payments were required to cover bond and an ankle monitor for their spouse, who had recently been arrested.
The General Assignment Unit took over the investigation and traced the funds to a bank account. The account holder told detectives that Abraham Rivas, 32, had told them the incoming payments were legal sports-betting winnings from family members. The account holder said the money was then forwarded to Rivas’ commissary account at Dooly State Prison in Georgia.
Detective First Class Douglas traveled to Dooly State Prison and interviewed Rivas in person. Rivas admitted to running the scheme and explained how the fraud operation worked from inside the Georgia prison system. He also told the detective that other inmates were running similar scams and claimed that correctional staff were aware the activity was taking place. Rivas further stated that he used money from the fraud to purchase marijuana inside the prison. Detective Douglas obtained an arrest warrant charging Rivas with organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.
Rivas is currently serving a four-year sentence in the Georgia Department of Corrections on prior charges including aggravated assault, theft by taking, and robbery by sudden snatching. He had been scheduled for release in 2027.
Sheriff Rick Staly called the situation at Dooly State Prison troubling. “It appears criminal activity is occurring right under their nose, and that is completely inexcusable,” Staly said. “If you steal from our residents, whether you are in Flagler County or in a prison cell in another state, we will investigate the case, obtain a warrant, and hold you accountable.” Staly also reminded the public that the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will never call, text, or email anyone to demand money or personal information to resolve a warrant or legal issue, and warned residents not to send money through Zelle, Cash App, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to people they do not know.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this type of scam is asked to contact the FCSO non-emergency line at 386-313-4911. Those in immediate danger should call 9-1-1. More information about the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is available at www.flaglersheriff.com.
