Former Miami Florida House Staffer Arrested

MIAMI, Florida -- Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Miami Regional Operations Center today arrested Janice Shackelford, 49, of Miami, for one count of organized fraud, five counts of unlawful compensation and three counts of official misconduct.  Shackelford is a former secretary for State House District 108 Representative Daphne Campbell, in the Miami Shores office, a job she has held since June 2011.

FDLE’s investigation began in June 2012, after receiving several complaints from constituents alleging that Shackelford pretended to assist victims with mortgage issues, immigration concerns and traffic violations summonses.  She would charge victims a fee, sometimes as much as $1,110.   The victims, all of Haitian descent, would come to State Representative Campbell’s office seeking assistance on various issues.   Shackelford would verify the victim’s information through computer databases and provide paperwork with fictitious court dates.

Once the paperwork was printed, officials say Shackelford would pretend to process it and set a court date.  The victims, thinking their paperwork was processed and issues were making their way through the courts, would pay the required fee set by Shackelford. The victims would arrive for court on a date set by Shackelford only to discover it was a bogus court date and no court hearing was scheduled on their matters. 

To date, FDLE has identified 10 victims with a total loss of approximately $5,400.

Shackelford was booked into the Dade County Jail.

If you have additional information about these crimes or are a victim, please contact FDLE at (305) 470-5500.