Atlanta Woman Arrested in Florida Bitcoin Scam Linked to Georgia Prison Fraud Ring

Authorities say D'Zyre Youngblood helped move funds stolen through impersonation of law enforcement officers

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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A 28-year-old Atlanta woman named D'Zyre Youngblood has been arrested in Florida and charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud for her alleged role in a Bitcoin scam that cost a Florida victim over $79,000. Investigators say the scam involved perpetrators impersonating law enforcement officers and pressuring victims to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs to avoid arrest. Authorities believe the scam is part of a broader fraud ring coordinated by inmates in Georgia prisons with help from people on the outside.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing threat of cryptocurrency-enabled fraud schemes, particularly those involving the impersonation of law enforcement. It also underscores the role that incarcerated individuals can play in orchestrating complex financial crimes with the assistance of outside accomplices. The investigation into this scam is part of a broader effort to dismantle fraud rings targeting vulnerable victims through intimidation tactics.

The details

According to the Volusia Sheriff's Office, D'Zyre Youngblood is accused of helping to move the stolen funds through cryptocurrency transactions after a Florida victim was contacted by someone posing as "Captain Eric Dietrich" from the Volusia Sheriff's Office. The caller falsely claimed the victim had a warrant for her arrest and pressured her to pay thousands of dollars to avoid jail. The victim withdrew cash from her bank account and deposited it via several Bitcoin ATM transactions, totaling over $79,000. Detectives later traced the cryptocurrency transfers through multiple digital wallets to a Coinbase account linked to Youngblood, and some of the funds were converted to U.S. dollars and spent through retail purchases and digital payment apps.

  • In June 2025, Christina Rimes of Morven, Georgia, was taken into custody for stealing $17,000 from a Daytona Beach resident in a similar Bitcoin scam.
  • In August 2025, Lakesha Heard, another Atlanta native, was extradited to Volusia County for scamming a Volusia resident out of thousands of dollars through a call impersonating a VSO lieutenant.

The players

D'Zyre Youngblood

A 28-year-old Atlanta woman who is facing charges including grand theft and organized scheme to defraud for her alleged role in the Bitcoin scam.

Christina Rimes

A resident of Morven, Georgia, who was taken into custody in June 2025 for stealing $17,000 from a Daytona Beach resident in a similar Bitcoin scam.

Lakesha Heard

An Atlanta native who was extradited to Volusia County in August 2025 for scamming a Volusia resident out of thousands of dollars through a call impersonating a VSO lieutenant.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of cryptocurrency-enabled fraud schemes, particularly those involving the impersonation of law enforcement. It also underscores the role that incarcerated individuals can play in orchestrating complex financial crimes with the assistance of outside accomplices.