Foley investigation leads to sentencing of two men in fake gold conspiracy case over 3 states

Yahoo

28-04-2025

FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — A Foley Police Department investigation that began in 2023 has led to the federal sentencing of two men involved in a fake gold conspiracy case that spanned three states.
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According to the Department of Justice, 42-year-old Rossi Windham, 21-year-old Dylan Jemison and a minor sold fake gold and silver to people.
A City of Foley news release said a victim of the conspiracy had contacted FPD after buying $20,000 worth of the fake gold from Jemison. The victim said Jemison had reached back out to him again offering to sell more counterfeit items.
FPD officials set up a sting operation where the victim set up a meeting to buy more gold but Jemison was really met with a Foley officer, who found Jemison with a backpack full of fake gold bars, according to the release.
Police said they were able to recover almost 100 fake gold bars from Jemison and the victim.
Jemison was charged with first-degree theft of property and first-degree attempted theft of property.
Officials said the victim was able to 'provide information that implicated the minor' a few days after Jemison's arrest.
Because there were multiple people involved, it became a potential conspiracy, which is a federal crime. FPD officials then contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The release said FPD officials issued a public service announcement asking for other possible victims to come forward. That is when the officials received calls from victims in Alabama and Georgia.
Officials searched Jemison's phone, which 'revealed the scale of the fraud scheme,' according to the release.
'Investigators determined that the incident began when the minor began advertising gold and silver bars and coins for sale on Facebook Marketplace,' read the release. 'Investigators found evidence that Windham, Jemison and the minor conspired to fraudulently sell counterfeit precious metals to victims in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.'
Officials said the minor claimed that he had inherited the counterfeit items from a relative and that he was selling them below market value in order to buy a truck and put money towards college.
Windham allegedly helped the minor sell the items by arranging the sales and sometimes going with the minor to meet the victim, according to the DOJ.
The release said at least once Windham handled the sale himself.
Officials said the three people were able to get over $120,000 from victims — some were reimbursed by Windham.
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The court ordered Windham and Jemison to pay $87,000 in restitution to seven victims. They also agreed to 'forfeit their illicit proceeds to the United States,' according to the release.
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