COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Four men from Georgia have been sentenced for a fraudulent scheme that targeted individuals nationwide, including in Iowa. The scam involved fake arrest warrants and threats to extort money.

Russell Weatherspoon and 3 other men convinced victims they faced arrest for missing court. They used fake law enforcement numbers and demanded cash bonds. Weatherspoon coordinated the operation from a Georgia prison.

Sentences for the men range from 36 to 130 months. All will serve three years of supervised release without parole. Restitution to victims is mandated.

The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, the Iowa State Patrol, and police departments in Council Bluffs, Iowa City, and Nebraska.

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