Authorities in Georgia say a man set up a fake online fundraiser he claimed would benefit relatives of a local teen who died on while playing football earlier this year.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, 17-year-old Pike County High School football player Dylan Thomas collapsed on the field in September and died a short time later.
The teen’s Sept. 30 death was later attributed to a cardiac arrest resulting from a brain injury he sustained during a game two days earlier.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the arrest of 22-year-old Justus Hughley on suspicion of computer theft.
Investigators believe the Upson County man posted a GoFundMe page ostensibly to benefit Thomas’ family.
He is accused of attempting to collect money to deposit into a personal bank account through an institution based in Iowa, according to police reports.
According to police reports, detectives collected a range of evidence including traces of computer IP addresses as well as information he submitted to the fundraising site when establishing the account.
Though Hughley never actually received money because the transaction raised red flags, he is expected to criminal counts including computer theft and remained behind bars at the Pike County Jail without bail as of the latest reports available.
“Fortunately the transaction was reported as fraudulent and no money was received by Hughley,” authorities reported.
It was unclear from available reports how much the fraudulent fundraiser had collected before GoFundMe deactivated the account.
[Featured image: Justus Hughley and Dylan Thomas, Pike County Sheriff’s Office]