Florida hunters targeted by Georgia inmate using smuggled cell phone for fake lease scheme: FWC
Courtesy: FWC
GILCHRIST COUNTY, Fla. - A 39-year-old Georgia prison inmate faces four felony charges in Florida after allegedly running a fraudulent hunting lease scam that cheated Florida residents out of thousands of dollars.
Georgia man runs hunting scam
What we know:
Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission filed charges against Rodney Edward Smith, 39, of Chatsworth, Georgia, in Gilchrist County, Florida, on May 7.
While incarcerated at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia, for false imprisonment and other charges, authorities said Smith targeted Florida hunters between July 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
According to FWC, Smith used smuggled cellphones, fake social media profiles, multiple online aliases and dozens of phone numbers to advertise land he did not own or control. A hunting lease allows a hunter to access private land under agreed-upon terms, but Smith is accused of collecting deposits from unsuspecting victims across 15 Florida counties without ever providing land access.
Extradition to face Florida charges
What's next:
Authorities extradited Smith from the Georgia prison to Florida on Aug. 16 on an outstanding warrant. His bond was set at $700,000.
Smith faces four felony charges in Florida:
- Fraudulently offering property for sale or lease (first-degree felony)
- Scheme to defraud less than $20,000 (third-degree felony)
- Illegal use of a two-way communication device (third-degree felony)
- Cheating (third-degree felony)
Impact on Florida hunting trust
What they're saying:
"By offering fraudulent hunting leases, he not only stole from Florida citizens, but also damaged the trust between hunters and landowners that is essential to Florida’s hunting tradition," said Lt. Col. Randy Bowlin, FWC Deputy Director of Law Enforcement over Investigations and Intelligence. "Our officers remain committed to protecting the public and resources by supporting lawful hunting opportunities across the state."
Unanswered details in the scam
What we don't know:
Officials have not publicly released the exact number of victims involved in the scheme or the precise total dollar amount stolen across the 15 counties.
It also remains unconfirmed how Smith obtained the smuggled cellphones inside the Georgia correctional facility.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from official press releases provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, detailing investigation assistance from the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Dalton Police Department in Georgia.