BSO Nabbed Alleged 'Deadbeat Parents' Using Good Ol' Fashioned Trickery

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Broward Sheriff's Office deputies used a little imagination when making their latest bust.

Mother and fathers accused of skipping out on child support payments were sent a letter telling them they had been randomly selected to receive a $500 gift card prize from a fake company called "Charter Club of Broward County".

To further entice the alleged "deadbeat parents" to show up, the letter also stated that the event was scheduled to hold hourly raffles with prized which included HDTVs, limo rentals, vacation packages and dinner cruises.

When the letter bearers showed up to the fake giveaway event, held at the North Lauderdale Recreation Center, they were immediately arrested and taken to the Broward Mail Jail. They were released when they posted the purge amount, or the amount owed in back child support.

Those arrested in the sting were: Dorshawn Tate, 26, Jarod Walters, 32, James Aiken, 28, Krystal Owens, 29, Patanisha Jackson, 35, David Harden, 48, and Allen Huntley 39.

BSO says all who were arrested were recently behind on the payments, so it is likely the caretakers of the children will receive the money owed to them. The back payments ranged from $240 to $525.