Florida man charged with scamming Marion woman out of $20,000

A Florida man is facing charges in Linn County that he scammed a Marion woman out of $20,000 by falsely telling her the money was needed for her grandson in jail.

Keyshaun King, 27, of Pompano Beach, Fla., is charged with first-degree theft against an older individual and conspiracy to commit a nonforcible felony.

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According to criminal complaints, the woman reported to the police that a man came to her house March 28, 2024, and took $20,000 from her. She was told her grandson was in jail and needed the money.

A similar incident occurred in Belle Plaine the day before, involving someone in similar clothing. A woman in that case falsely was told her daughter was in a car crash and would be going to jail, and that a bail bondsman would come to her house to retrieve $9,000 her daughter needed for bail money. The man, who police believe was King, showed up at 9:30 a.m. March 27, 2024, according to a criminal complaint.

Police were able to find surveillance footage of the vehicle King drove, showing it parked near the Belle Plaine home. It was a rental car that had been paid for by King in Omaha. Police believe King collaborated with other people to commit both scams, as there were people on the phone with the victims when King arrived to get the money.

King was arrested in April and charged in Benton County with second-degree theft against an older individual. King faces a jury trial scheduled in that case for Aug. 4.

Charges were filed in Linn County for the theft in Marion on Feb. 3, and a warrant was issued for King’s arrest. He was booked Thursday into the Linn County Jail. He had a first appearance in court Friday and was being held on a $50,000 cash-only bail.

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