The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of a federal inmate who has been on the run since May 26 after escaping from a prison camp in Georgia.
Arthur Cofield remains missing from a minimum-security prison camp in southeast Georgia, prompting a multi-agency search.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 34-year-old Arthur Cofield was discovered missing around 4:30 p.m. on May 26 from a satellite camp adjacent to the Federal Correctional Institution in Jesup. Cofield is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 210 pounds.
The U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies were immediately notified, and an internal investigation is underway. Anyone with information about Cofield’s whereabouts is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 912-429-7169.
Cofield is serving a 135-month federal sentence handed down in the Northern District of Georgia for conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud, as well as aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said he orchestrated a complex financial scheme targeting wealthy individuals and financial institutions.
Before his conviction, Cofield drew national attention for allegedly masterminding an $11 million theft while incarcerated. Authorities said he used contraband cell phones to impersonate billionaire film producer Sidney Kimmel and gain access to one of Kimmel’s accounts. Investigators allege the funds were used to purchase more than 6,000 American Eagle gold coins, with some proceeds later tied to the purchase of a $4.4 million home in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.
How he did it:
The $11 Million Prison Scam
While serving a state prison sentence for armed robbery, Cofield used smuggled contraband cell phones to pull off a highly sophisticated identity theft scheme:
- The Target: He targeted a wealthy Charles Schwab client, later identified as billionaire film producer Sidney Kimmel.
- The Gold Purchase: Impersonating the victim, Cofield ordered 6,106 American Gold Eagle one-ounce coins totaling nearly $11 million.
- The Delivery: He hired a private security team to transport the physical gold coins via private plane from Idaho to Atlanta.
- The Mansion: Cofield used his outside accomplices to buy a $4.4 million, six-bedroom mansion in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood.
He was subsequently convicted in federal court in 2024 and sentenced to 11 years and 3 months before executing his escape.
Description of the Fugitive
The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service consider Cofield armed and dangerous. Authorities have provided the following physical details:
Cofield is described as approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 210 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Investigators have not shared a description of what he may be wearing.
The prison camp, located next to FCI Jesup, is a minimum-security facility. Officials have not released details about how Cofield escaped. The search remains ongoing.
If you have any information about Cofield’s location, call the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-225-5324,or call the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-926-8332.
