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St. Petersburg man posed as Jason Aldean to scam woman, police say

 
Published June 27, 2016

LARGO — Posing as country music star Jason Aldean, a St. Petersburg man scammed a mentally disabled woman into giving him money, authorities said.

Daniel Michael Farris, 27, used Facebook for the ruse, Largo police said in an arrest affidavit. He asked the woman for more than $2,000, then pretended to be a friend of the singer to collect the money — $230 between two meetings.

As Aldean, he would tell the victim he was on tour and that his friend needed the money, police said. He would tell her he loved her.

Police said Farris also persuaded the victim to have sex with him while he posed as Aldean's friend.

He was arrested last Tuesday and remained in jail Sunday in lieu of $2,000 bail. Jail records show he faces charges of grand theft and scheme to defraud.

According to police, Farris admitted to his scheme and said he knew it was wrong, but that he was using the money for his prescription pill addiction.