A north Georgia man is accused of running an elaborate hunting lease scheme while serving time in a Georgia prison, according to wildlife investigators.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced charges against Rodney Edward Smith, 39, of Chatsworth, alleging he cheated Florida hunters of thousands of dollars while incarcerated at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe.
Investigators say Smith was serving a sentence for false imprisonment and other charges when he orchestrated the scheme between July 2025 and April 2026.
According to the FWC, Smith used smuggled cell phones, multiple online aliases, social media profiles and dozens of phone numbers to advertise hunting leases on properties he did not own or control.
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A hunting lease allows hunters to access private land under an agreement with a property owner. Authorities say Smith negotiated lease agreements and collected deposits from multiple victims across 15 Florida counties, despite having no authority over the properties being advertised.
"By offering fraudulent hunting leases, he not only stole from Florida citizens, but also damaged the trust between hunters and landowners that is essential to Florida's hunting tradition," FWC Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Lt. Col. Randy Bowlin said in a statement.
On May 7, FWC investigators filed charges against Smith in Gilchrist County, Florida.
Authorities extradited Smith from Macon State Prison to Florida on Aug. 16 to face several charges, including fraudulently offering property for sale or lease, scheme to defraud, illegal use of a two-way communication device and cheating.
A judge set Smith's bond at $700,000.
The case remains under investigation.
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