South Carolina Woman Charged with Extorting Iowa City Resident, Sending Money to Prison Inmates

Authorities say Milako Foster misrepresented herself as a law enforcement officer to extort thousands from an Iowa City man.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A 47-year-old South Carolina woman named Milako Foster has been arrested and charged with extortion, money laundering, and second-degree theft after allegedly extorting thousands of dollars from an Iowa City resident and then transferring the funds to multiple prison inmates, including an alleged co-conspirator.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of extortion schemes targeting vulnerable individuals, as well as the issue of money laundering and the ways in which inmates can exploit outside connections to obtain illicit funds. It also raises concerns about the integrity of the criminal justice system and the need for stronger safeguards to prevent such abuses.

The details

According to police, in October 2025, Foster contacted an Iowa City resident and misrepresented herself as a South Carolina law enforcement officer. She made the victim believe he owed a substantial amount of money for communicating with a woman in an incident involving a nude photograph. The victim paid Foster $3,890.20, and she then allegedly transferred the money from her account to the accounts of multiple inmates inside a South Carolina prison, including an alleged co-conspirator.

  • In October 2025, Foster contacted the Iowa City resident.
  • On Wednesday, February 26, 2026, Foster was booked into the Johnson County Jail.

The players

Milako Foster

A 47-year-old woman from Spartanburg, South Carolina who is accused of extorting an Iowa City resident and transferring the funds to prison inmates.

Iowa City Resident

The victim of Foster's alleged extortion scheme, who paid her $3,890.20 after she misrepresented herself as a law enforcement officer.

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What’s next

If convicted on all charges, Foster faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for stronger safeguards and oversight to prevent inmates from engaging in extortion and money laundering schemes that exploit vulnerable individuals on the outside.