The wife of well-known fishing guide Shane Watson, recently accused of theft and fraud in multiple counties, has been taken into custody for a similar charge in Walton County.
Pamela Jo Watson, 50, of Cumming was arrested Saturday on an outstanding warrant from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, said Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. Doug Rainwater.
According to the Walton County warrant, provided by an alleged victim, Watson is wanted in Walton County for deposit account fraud. A spokeswoman from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they have an active account fraud warrant for Pam Watson but could not provide further details.
Previously, the FCN reported that Shane Watson, 50, of Cumming was arrested by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office on July 18, charged with three counts of felony theft by deception and one count of account fraud. Watson has also been implicated in a number of theft by deception and fraud cases in Banks, Monroe and Walton counties; Aiken County, S.C.; and the cities of Gainesville, Roswell and Milton. Incident reports indicated a pattern of fraudulent dealings in which Watson allegedly took thousands of dollars from victims under the guise of legitimate investments.
Walton County resident and alleged victim Devin Smith said that in 2017 he gave Shane and Pamela Watson $38,000 for a new boat and an investment deal, but when the boat and investment returns were due in 2018, he received nothing but a bad check and excuses from the couple.
Smith said that while he believes Shane Watson allegedly perpetrated the fraud, Pamela Watson was part of the scheme.
“She was there when I met Shane, she signed the check, she texted me, coordinated everything, and mailed me the check,” he said. “She’s 100 percent to blame as well.”
Court records show that Pamela Watson, along with Shane Watson and his business, Shane Watson Guide Service, have been implicated in a civil lawsuit, filed on June 2, 2018 by attorney R. Brent Hatcher Jr. of Gainesville, which alleges charges of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud against the couple.
According to the suit, in September 2016 the complainant was approached by Shane Watson about investing in a business venture and eventually decided to invest $50,000 for a $25,000 guaranteed return by May 20, 2017. On Dec. 19, 2017 the complainant received a check for $82,000, signed by Pamela Watson, and was asked not to deposit the check for some time.
“As such, Defendants issued the check (and Pam Watson signed the check) knowing that the account upon which it was to be drawn contained insufficient funds,” the suit states.
Numerous previous attempts to contact Shane and Pamela Watson for comment and to determine if either has legal representation have gone unanswered.
Pamela Watson is being held at the Forsyth County Jail under no bond while she awaits transfer to Walton County.
Shane Watson is also being held at the Forsyth County Jail under no bond while he awaits transfer to four other jurisdictions.