Police Arrest Man in Theft Schemes, Targeted Adults with Disabilities

Edward Jones was out looking for a job when he ran into an acquaintance at the Wheaton Metro station. The man, who Jones knew as a bagger at a grocery store, told him he was in luck.


The man told Jones he could get him a job as a school janitor. All Jones had to do was hand over $460 for a uniform and a background check.


The offer seemed too good to be true. And it was.


Jones, 44, is among four people who Montgomery County police said have been scammed by a man who detectives say targeted people with mental or physical disabilities.


Deshaune T. Johnson, 50, of Riverdale is accused of stealing about $10,000 from victims, police said. He has been charged with multiple counts of obtaining property of a vulnerable adult and carrying out a theft scheme.


Police said they think more people may have been scammed. Jones, who said he has a speech disorder that was the result of injuries he suffered in a car accident, told his story to reporters Friday to encourage potential victims to come forward.


In May, Jones said, Johnson approached him at the Metro station and they chatted. Jones, who was working part time as a file clerk assistant, said he told Johnson that he had been out looking for a second job to supplement his income.


Jones said Johnson told him “everyone meets for a reason” and that he could help Jones get a job.


According to Jones, Johnson told him that he was the second-in-charge of janitorial services at a local high school. Jones agreed to give him $460 for the uniform and background check, and they went to a nearby ATM.


From there, Johnson took Jones on the bus to the Mall at Prince George’s, where Jones was told he would get to meet his new boss, Jones said. When they arrived, Johnson told him to stay put and said he would return shortly with the man.


He has one part-time job and was searching for another when he says Johnson approached him and said he could get him a job as a school janitor. Jones just had to hand over money for a uniform and fingerprints.
"He said his boss would put a few uniforms aside. Also, I needed to have my fingerprints taken so he could do a background check," says Jones.
He says he now can't believe he handed over hundreds of dollars.
"The whole time red flags were going up, but I had spent the whole day looking for a job. I thought this was too good to be true and it was," says Jones.
Police say one of Johnson's other victims has Alzheimer’s. Another was mentally disabled and a huge Redskins fan. Investigators say Johnson offered him a job with the Skins.
"He saw that he was a diehard Redskins fan- Redskins hat, Redskins jersey. He knew that that was gonna be his niche," says Officer Sharif Hidayat, who handled the investigation. "It did have a little bit of an emotional impact on me personally," says the officer.
He was determined to solve the case. To Edward Jones, Officer Hidayat is "a guardian angel."
Police say most of Johnson's victims were in Maryland; at least one over the line in D.C.
Johnson is in jail tonight- locked up in Montgomery County.