An investigation by the Foley Police Department into the selling of fake gold and silver led to a federal investigation and sentencing of two men.
Rossi Windham, 42, and Dylan Jemison, 21, both of Sylacauga, and a minor, who was not identified because of his age, sold the fake gold and silver to victims, police said.
Those victims paid more than $120,000 for the counterfeit items in three states.
In 2023, a victim contacted Foley Police after buying fake gold for $20,000 from Jemison.
Police set up a sting operation and caught Jemison with a backpack full of fake gold bars. Jemison was charged with first-degree theft of property and first-degree attempted theft of property.
The Foley Police Intelligence Unit established a connection between the two suspects and a possible conspiracy. Because conspiracies involving minted gold are federal offenses, they contacted the FBI.
After releasing information to the public, numerous victims from across Alabama and Georgia came forward.
Further investigation found some of the fake gold was sold on Facebook marketplace with victims in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
Some victims were reimbursed by Windham during the course of the conspiracy. However, the court ordered both Windham and Jemison to pay $87,000.00 in restitution to seven victims who had not been reimbursed. In addition to restitution, Windham and Jemison both agreed to forfeit their illicit proceeds to the United States.
The Foley Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with special assistance from a Foley business.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Bodnar prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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