DORCAS JANE ROGERS A two-month investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office led to the arrest of Dorcas Jane Rogers, 47, of Nichols, South Carolina.

She is charged with two counts of felony deposit account fraud and two counts of theft by taking.

The investigation began when Turner Realty of Lincolnton notified the sheriff's office that it had been the victim of a scam perpetrated by Rogers.

Working with the United States Marshals Office in Augusta and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Florence, South Carolina, Lt. David Stevens and Deputy Holly Barron of the Lincoln County sheriff's Office began a two-week quest which led to Rogers' arrest at a residence in Aiken, South Carolina.

Prior to her arrest, the United States Marshals Service apprehended her husband, Henry David Collins, 57, when he arrived for his monthly appointment at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Augusta.

Collins, who was charged with one count of theft by taking, is currently out on a $10,000 bond.

According to a spokesman for the sheriff's office, "The investigation uncovered an elaborate scam that Mrs. Rogers was conducting on members of her family; Don Watts, a family friend; and others. At the center of the scam was a fake inheritance of $900 billion that she claimed was coming her way.

"The first victim was Mr. Collins, who was the subject's boyfriend at the time. Both Mr. Collins; his brother, Randell Collins; and Mr. Watts gave Mrs. Rogers money with the understanding that they would acquire property, a jet, horses, etc. and recoup their investment when Mrs. Rogers received her inheritance."

The spokesman went on to say that another part of the scam involved realty companies. "Turner Realty, along with Century 21, Coldwell Bankers, and other real estate firms, were contacted by Mrs. Rogers and advised of the inheritance. She would then have the realtor e-mail her business associate, Mr. Watts, referencing 'Barrentine Properties' or 'Ms. Pinkie told me to send this to you.'"

According to Rogers, she was inheriting property or portions of the proceeds from the sale of property from her "uncle," the late Turner Barrentine of Atlanta. The real Barrentine passed way in 1986 and was no relation to the subject.

All total, Rogers wrote approximately $300,000 in bad checks to Turner Realty, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Bobby Jones Ford in Augusta, and an Atlanta attorney and scammed roughly the same amount from those closely involved in the case.

The subject is currently being held in the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Center. Bond was denied.

Moreover, due to the scope of the case, it has since been turned over to the FBI.

"The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office worked many long and tedious hours to bring this case to the point we are at today," said Sheriff Gerald Lawson. "I would like to thank Lt. David Stevens and Deputy Holly Barron for the long hours they spent tracking down Mrs. Rogers as well as Investigator Jack Hancock for the time he spent in briefing the FBI on the case.

"We would not be where we are today had it not been for the tireless dedication of these three law enforcement officers."

In other items of information, the sheriff's office was recently notified by the McCormick County Sheriff's Office that two four-wheelers, belonging to Kenneth Stowe of Lakeshore Estates in Lincoln County, were discovered in Plum Branch, South Carolina.

Investigators from both Lincoln and McCormick counties began working on the case and discovered that clothes, firearms, alcohol, and several rods and reels had been also been stolen from the Stowe residence and another house, located on the same road.

In connection with the investigation, law enforcement officials arrested three adults and one juvenile, charging each with two counts of burglary.

Lila Marie Peacock, 28, of Lincoln County is out on a $32,500 bond, and Camellia Moragne 19, also of Lincoln County, is out of a $30,000 bond, while Edward Jamey Clegg, 37, of Plum Branch is currently incarcerated in the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Center on a $30,000 bond.

The juvenile is presently in custody at the Columbia Youth Detention Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

Additional charges may be pending.