WEBSTER CITY — Two Florida men are in the Hamilton County Jail after scamming area residents by convincing them that neighbors needed bail money.

According to Hamilton County Sheriff Alex Pruismann, Eddie Benitez Abreus and Carlos Yadier Garrido Guzman are charged with first degree theft and impersonation of a public official.

On Feb. 25, a Hamilton County resident was scammed out of $10,000 when Abreus and Guzman posed as a lawyer and judge and convinced the resident that their neighbor had been arrested and needed bail money. The victim cooperated and gave the individuals the money.

Later the same day, the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office received a similar report of a scam that had occurred.

Deputies later identified the vehicle used by the scammers and on Feb. 27 arrested both Abreus and Guzman.

The arrests were part of a joint investigation between the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office.