Scammer posing as Philly DA busted for defrauding 93-year-old

A man who impersonated Philadelphia’s district attorney to defraud an elderly resident out of almost $100,000 has been arrested. 

D.A. Seth Williams says he knew Shelton Thomas — they even played Ping Pong together as children. Thomas is charged with robery and impersonating a public servant for allegedly defrauding 93-year-old Raymond Campbell out of $95,000. Williams says Thomas tricked the man into paying phony fines.

“He had conversations with the person he believed to be the district attorney on the telephone, and wanting to be a good American, thinking that he had done something wrong, that there was a fine that he owed, he was told by Shelton Thomas on the phone that Shelton Thomas would be the emissary for the District Attorney’s office, that Shelton Thomas, he would come pick up the fines,” Williams explained.

Philadelphia Police Detective Margarita Nix says unfortunately, she sees more and more senior citizens caught up in scams. 

“What brought this case to light was the family members, and it’s just not the family members we need neighbors to look out for each other,” Nix said. 

D.A. Williams says he has a wish for Thomas — a lifetime of cheese sandwiches — the food of choice in the city jail.