A woman from the Atlanta area has pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a scam that targeted victims in Missouri and Kansas by impersonating law enforcement officers. Ariel Burden, 33, admitted to one count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.
According to court documents, Burden was part of a group that contacted victims using phone numbers designed to appear as if they were associated with local police departments. The callers falsely claimed the victims had outstanding warrants for missing court appearances and told them they needed to pay thousands of dollars to a bondswoman or face arrest. Burden met with the victims while using the alias “Jennifer Davis,” collected their payments, and provided receipts containing fake citation numbers and other false details.
One incident detailed in her plea agreement involved a Jefferson County, Missouri victim who was called on February 28, 2024, by someone claiming to be from the Crystal City Police Department. The victim went to Crystal City’s City Hall and paid Burden $12,000 for what she believed was bond money. Burden gave her a receipt with a fictitious citation number and information indicating payment had been made to the “Crystal City Court” and accepted by “Jennifer Davis.”
Burden acknowledged defrauding three people—two in Kansas and one in Missouri—of a total of $28,000.
She is scheduled for sentencing on January 14, 2026. The charge of wire fraud carries up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; restitution will also be ordered.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations alongside the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri and the McPherson Police Department in Kansas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.
