MCSO: 2 caught impersonating detectives to intimidate auto loan clients

PHOENIX - Two employees of a title loan company were arrested after they allegedly pretended to be sheriff's deputies to try to intimidate clients to pay loans, or turn in vehicles that had been used as collateral.

According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Merle Madison and Paul Romero contacted loan recipients from Cash Time Title Loans through hundreds of phone calls, as far back as early 2009, using a calling system that caused the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office telephone number to appear in the receiver's caller ID.

Victims of the calls reportedly told sheriff's deputies they had been called by someone claiming to be a detective with MCSO in response to their late loan payments, and that they may have been subject to arrest.

In February 2010, an employee with MCSO told detectives with the Organized Crime Division that he had been getting calls from people claiming to have been contacted by a detective from the department.

Madison, 50, and Romero, 31, were arrested Tuesday, after an investigation.

MCSO officials said one of the suspects will be charged with impersonating a peace officer and the other with conspiracy to aid in impersonating a peace officer.