Prestonsburg man targets businesses in Martin, Floyd and Johnson counties
BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a man accused of fraudulently soliciting donations from local businesses, claiming that his wife was seriously ill and he needed funds to cover medical expenses.
Police caught up with the fundraiser, Wallace Johnson, a 60-year-old resident of Prestonsburg, July 11 at Tommy’s Auto Sales in Inez after multiple reports of his activities throughout Martin County.
“He was inside begging for money from them,” MCSO Chief Deputy Chris Kidd said. “We brought him outside and asked what he was doing and how things were.”
The deputy said Johnson, dressed in an Arby’s uniform, had been traveling from county to county recounting a fabricated tale about his wife’s hospitalization and financial distress and asking for donations.
“He was getting people to donate money to him, sometimes down to the last dollars they had,” said Kidd.
The Sheriff’s Office had previously warned the public and local businesses to be vigilant for Johnson’s scheme.
According to Kidd, Johnson confessed to the fraudulent behavior when confronted. He admitted that he had not only targeted businesses in Martin County but had also been active in Johnson County and “just about all businesses in Floyd County.”
Floyd County law enforcement confirmed they were already familiar with Johnson and his activities.
“As soon as we mentioned his name, they said he does the same stuff in Floyd County,” said Kidd.
Earlier in the day, before his encounter with the authorities, Johnson had visited various establishments including Adkins Fastop, Patriot Ambulance Service, OPV and a doctor’s office on Blacklog. He had managed to secure between $5 to $10 from each of those businesses that day.
According to Kidd, Johnson defended his actions as being a means of supplementing his income. He told law enforcement that his typical earnings at Arby’s, where he works for about 20 to 25 hours per week, were insufficient, leading him to concoct the deceitful story “just to make ends meet.”
“He said that’s just his way of making extra money,” said Kidd. “That’s how he makes his extra money this day and time – just going around telling people a sad story that is not necessarily true. He said giving them that story would usually get them to donate money. He said some days he would make $10, $15 or $20, and some days he would make $100, $200, $300.”
Johnson confirmed to authorities that his wife was not hospitalized or sick. He acknowledged that the couple did not require money for medical bills and that his wife was at home.
After consulting with the prosecutor, the Sheriff’s Office charged Johnson with theft by deception. He is scheduled to answer the charge July 31 in Martin District Court.