Jerry Keith Brady Jr. accused of using fake inheritance story to defraud friends and acquaintances across multiple states.
EASTVILLE, Va. — A police officer from Virginia’s Eastern Shore pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges alleging he orchestrated an elaborate fraud scheme that netted nearly $820,000 by convincing friends and acquaintances he was owed a substantial inheritance.
Jerry Keith Brady Jr., 39, of Belle Haven, waived his formal arraignment in U.S. District Court in Norfolk and demanded a jury trial on 12 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. The brief court session lasted about five minutes, according to court documents.
Brady, who serves as an officer with the Eastville Police Department, has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest on Aug. 25. He was released the following day and remains free on his own recognizance pending trial.
Federal prosecutors allege that between 2020 and 2024, Brady approached friends and acquaintances with a fabricated story about a large inheritance or life insurance payout from a deceased relative. According to court documents, he would claim he needed upfront funds to pay attorney fees and other costs to access the money.
“Brady would seek substantial loans from these individuals, in some instances tens of thousands of dollars, to cover the non-existent fees,” the indictment states. “In reality, there was never any inheritance or life insurance, nor were there any fees related to such.”
The scheme allegedly involved written loan agreements that Brady largely failed to honor. In some cases, prosecutors say, he would return to victims claiming he needed additional funds to access the fictitious inheritance.
The alleged fraud crossed state lines, with money transferred from accounts in North Carolina, Virginia, California, Pennsylvania and Maryland into Brady’s bank account in Tennessee, according to federal investigators.
The victims, identified only by their initials in court filings, trusted Brady enough to lend him substantial sums based on his fabricated story. IRS Agent Nathan Perrow is leading the investigation into the case.
U.S. District Judge has set Sept. 24 as the deadline for pre-trial motions, with trial scheduled to begin Nov. 3. Brady faces significant prison time if convicted on all counts.
Federal wire fraud charges carry maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison per count, while money laundering charges can result in up to 10 years per count.
Brady’s defense team has not yet commented publicly on the charges. The Eastville Police Department also declined to comment on the ongoing federal case.
For residents of the tight-knit Eastern Shore community, the allegations against a local law enforcement officer have raised questions about oversight and trust within institutions designed to protect the public.
Have you noticed the growing chorus of voices expressing concerns about law enforcement lately? Even those within the community—his “family,” “friends,” and lifelong acquaintances—seem to have lost faith in the police’s integrity and the system as a whole. This shift reveals a troubling sentiment that there could be some truth to allegations of misconduct and abuse of power. We must address these accusations seriously and ensure that wrongdoings within the police force are met with appropriate prosecution. Trust in law enforcement is critical for a functioning democracy, and we cannot afford to have officers who are perceived as untrustworthy or overly entrenched in a culture of impunity. Accountability and transparency must be the cornerstones of policing if we want to restore faith in these vital institutions that are meant to protect and serve our communities.
You mean
The Eastville Thief Department
How do these local corrupt so called Police departments get to set up these traffic traps on a State Highway? The only department allowed are State Police . Just because the road goes through your town doesn’t give them this right . Consider it like a federal land located in the same location as the town . Only Federal agencies are allowed to police them not local . Time to bust up these money grabbing corrupt departments.
“The only department allowed are State Police . Just because the road goes through your town doesn’t give them this right .” You are incorrect Bob.