Nearly 100 fraud charges filed against Hinesville man who targeted Chatham County judges

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A Hinesville man is in jail after being accused of stealing the identities of multiple Chatham County judges.

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested Adeshina Jegede of Hinesville on charges of identity fraud and first-degree forgery. WTOC was on the scene as deputies took the suspect into custody today, January 9, 2025.

Sheriff Richard Coleman said the man faces nearly 100 counts of identity fraud and forgery.

Investigation reveals court system breach

Coleman said investigators received information that someone committed fraud and forgery within the court system. An investigation showed the person somehow impersonated court personnel and got into the court system.

The investigation revealed that Jegede allegedly stole the identities of at least two senior members of the Chatham County Judiciary. Deputies recovered several laptops and devices in the case.

The arrest was carried out early in the morning by Special Investigations Unit investigators with help from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team.

Coleman said this is a complex and wide-ranging investigation that is expected to result in multiple additional charges. The investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

“Stealing the identity of the judges, that’s big in itself,” Sheriff Coleman said. “And we want to send a clear message that you can go any place else and violate their judges. You won’t be violating the judges here in Chatham County.”