A convicted felon is back behind bars, accused of fraud in at least three different states, including against multiple organizations in Jacksonville.
On the day that Jerrell Smith toured City Rescue Mission in January, he bought and served 100 people lunch and promised Executive Director Penney Kievet that he would donate $200,000 for renovations to their facility on McDuff Avenue.
"He called himself Dr. Smith, and said a friend's mother recommended he see the facility. He first paid for lunch for 100 people from Subway, and later, he pledged to help more people get off the streets with a major donation," Kievet told Action News. "We gave him a standing ovation that day."
Smith's commitment was caught on camera by film crews from Kennetic Productions.
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"We were excited," said CEO and Executive Producer Christopher Kennelly. "We were going to get this guy elected!"
Kennelly said his company was hired by Smith at the last minute to shoot video that day. Smith told the crew he was a bishop with a doctorate in theology, who was planning to run for mayor of Memphis and needed video for his campaign.
"He wanted to show he was a family man and that he was dedicated to helping people. We followed him to CRM, conducted interviews and followed him to a bowling alley," Kennelly said.
Jacksonville, Smith told them, was home to his extended family.
"He had a compelling story. He said his mother died in his arms," said Kennelly.
During an interview with the production crew, Smith expressed his desire to lead the city of Memphis in 2015.
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"If elected mayor of Memphis," he told them, "I look forward to bringing that family atmosphere back."
But police in Sandy Springs, Georgia, said Smith had no intention of running for office, or paying Kennelly for that video. Instead, he's a convicted felon, accused of writing bogus checks in three states for things he did to impress his girlfriend.
"He doesn't go anywhere that he doesn't showboat, write somebody a check and then he leaves shortly thereafter," said Sandy Springs Detective Michael Bailey.
Smith is now behind bars for ripping off a Georgia woman, who said he hired her to clean a mansion and condo. She said he gave her a check for $3,500 that soon bounced and forced the bank to close her account.
Police say Smith is also accused of ripping off a Jacksonville-based inspection company for $10,000 for services rendered.
Kievet said Smith mailed her a $200,000 days after his tour of City Rescue Mission, which also bounced.
"We didn't go to him. He found us. It just doesn't make sense. Why would he even write the check? Now, we are just heartbroken," said Kievet.
Kennelly is also confused. The $17,000 check Smith gave him to capture the acts on video also bounced.
"Why would you perpetrate such a large fraud and then have a documentary crew follow you while you do it? We have straight up footage of this guy doing this. It's irrefutable! Eventually, that's going to be embarrassing," Kennelly said.
