Jacksonville community activist, political consultant arrested in identity theft; Rev. Gundy a victim

EDITOR'S NOTE: On March 28, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty to organized fraud and was sentenced to seven years in prison, according to court records.

His Facebook page lists the 34-year-old as "Siottis Jackson, Community Champion," and a public figure.

But a May 23 Jacksonville Sheriff's Office arrest warrant calls him a "suspect" sought on a charge of criminal use of personal information after at least $250,000 in loans were stolen last year from the nonprofit the Rev. Reginald Gundy founded 22 years ago.

On June 10 the Sheriff's Office even posted an alert for Jackson, and the community activist, publicist and consultant gave himself up to Clay County authorities that evening, according to that county's Sheriff's Office.

Jackson, also a former campaign worker of ex-U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, was freed on $50,000 bond, releasing a lengthy statement on his social media sites that asks people to "reserve judgment and respect the justice process as it runs its course."

Identity theft Jacksonville man goes to prison for using twin brother's identity to scam veteran benefits

Jackson guest column A chance to end the digital divide in Florida

"Please continue to support the entities, candidates, initiatives, elected officials, activities, family or friends related/connected to me," the statement said. "This situation has absolutely nothing to do with anyone I am connected with and I ask the public to treat it as such. I ask that the public not allow this matter to negatively reflect on others."

He said any further comments will come from his attorneys.

Gundy, pastor at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, did not respond to telephone and email messages for comment. But in the five-page warrant, he told investigators he "did not approve nor authorize anyone" to use his personal identification information to apply for any loans for the First Coast Leadership Foundation where Jackson lists himself as chief operating and program officer on his LinkedIn site. Gundy further stated there was even a church board meeting discussing they would not apply for any loans for the foundation.

The nonprofit foundation works on mentorship, job training, affordable housing referrals, temporary shelter and other programs for local residents. Jackson said his job is "to accrue grants, funding and loans for the organization," according to the warrant.

The Florida Division of Corporations lists Jackson as a registered agent of five area organizations, including the Ribault Alumni Group Association, Friends of Northside Schools and the Transforming Communities Community Development Corp. His recent social media sites have posted mostly notices of private and city job fairs as well as COVID-19 testing locations.

In news releases to the media, he also has been listed as the contact for the Black Men Engaged nonprofit that launched 2021's #TaketheShotJax events to offer information about the COVID-19 vaccination and how to protect themselves.

Warrant lists multiple instances

The original Dec. 8, 2021, police report said officers were sent to the Mount Sinai Baptist Church on Silver Street in reference to a fraud investigation. Church officials said they had received an email notification from a collection agency advising that a $50,000 loan had been taken out on behalf of the foundation and needed to be paid. Gundy began the foundation in 2000, according to state business records.

Investigators with the North Florida Cyber Fraud Task Force got copies of all paperwork associated with the loan, as well as recordings of two telephone calls with Jackson finalizing it, the warrant said.

The investigation revealed some of the loans were applied for on May 10, June 9 and July 19 for a total of $75,255. A copy of Gundy's driver's license photo and bank statements for the foundation were submitted, and the pastor's name signed on the documents via DocuSign, the police report said.

Opal Lee: 'Grandmother of Juneteenth' and former prisoner spread message of hope in Jacksonville

Further investigation found that two additional documents had been forged with the signature of First Coast Leadership Foundation board members on Sept. 3 and 28, Jackson's arrest warrant said. Investigators spoke with one of those board members, who said he did not sign the Sept. 3 documents nor give anyone permission to sign his name. The Sept. 28 form had the signatures from three additional board members, one of whom said he didn't sign it or give anyone permission to do so.

On Sept. 3 a $40,000 loan was made to the foundation. DocuSign was used to sign the victim's name, the warrant said.

The investigation revealed many more fraudulent loan applications.

One made on Nov. 4 had Gundy's signature via the DocuSign system. But Gundy said he did not authorize anyone to apply for this loan or give permission to use his information to apply for it, the warrant said. The investigation showed someone used Gundy's personal information to apply for a $35,000 cash advance that was denied on Nov. 8. That application showed an email with Gundy's name, but both it and the phone number was Jackson's.

Florida's 'Casanova Scammer' Accused of impersonating doctor, scamming 21 women in 8 states

Another loan for $25,000 was requested for the foundation on Oct. 27. In both cases, the email and phone number were Jackson's, not Gundy's, the warrant said.

A review of the foundation's bank records uncovered a March 10, 2021, Small Business Loan for Paycheck Protection, $129,539 deposited into its account. Again, Gundy and others said they did not authorize this loan or one for $25,000 on June 20, the warrant said.

A $35,000 loan attempt made in April 2021 included a copy of Gundy's driver's license photo, a voided check for the foundation and a fraudulent corporate resolution of its board of directors. This document was notarized and signed by the foundation's chairmen. But a board member told investigators that they had not approved it, while the notary public said "this was not the document she notarized," the warrant said.

Other attempts were made to get more loans, but the warrant said these were denied, including ones for $25,000 and $50,000.

Investigators also found that Jackson acted as Gundy in telephone calls to loan company officials and made changes in the application, learned as they listened to the recorded calls, the warrant said. The investigator "found the individual who called in pretending to be Pastor Gundy changed the phone number on the account." Those two phone calls were on Sept. 28, the warrant said.

Past convictions and issues

Jackson also served as director of the North Florida chapter of Second Chances, a nonprofit group supporting Amendment 4 in 2018. That state amendment, which passed that year, allows those with felony convictions to get their voting rights restored automatically if they've completed their sentences, including parole and probation.

Restore rights Amendment seeks to restore ability to vote for 1.5M Florida felons

Two charged Arrests in Ribault pep rally fracas

Jackson was one of those whose rights were restored, since he has two convictions on his record, according to local court records.

"I work for candidates and I can't vote for them," he said prior to Amendment 4's passage. "I live in a community where a lot of people are affected by this."

In 2011 he pleaded guilty to a charge of scheme to defraud while working as a student activities director at Ribault High School, according to Duval County court records. He did not turn in thousands of dollars he had collected during the 2009 and 2010 school year and received three years of probation, court records show.

And in 2015 while working for a Clay County real estate agent, he was charged with forgery and criminal use of personal identification after using two company checks, according to court records. He pleaded guilty and received a year probation.

He also has a 2017 foreclosure, court records show.

Jackson also was a former campaign worker for Brown and was with the then-congresswoman on Jan. 4, 2016, at a Northside restaurant when federal agents served her with a subpoena.

Brown was indicted for conspiracy and fraud, convicted and sent to prison. Back in court this year, she entered a May 19 guilty plea for engaging in a corrupt endeavor to obstruct and impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws. She was sentenced to two years and eight months which she had already served in federal prison. She was also ordered to pay $62,650 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Siottis Jackson arrested after Jacksonville pastor's identity theft