An 18-year-old Gainesville man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a senior citizen’s phone and using it to access their Zelle account, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy B. Clevenger began investigating the case on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, after the victim, a senior citizen, reported fraudulent activity on their bank account. Investigators learned that the suspect, identified as Jacob Stager, had reportedly stolen the victim’s phone during an earlier encounter that week.
After the victim purchased a new phone, they began receiving notifications about multiple attempted Zelle transfers to Stager’s account — all of which were initially denied. However, the following day, the victim discovered that money had successfully been withdrawn and transferred to Stager.
Deputies located and spoke with Stager in the early morning hours of Friday, October 10. Following the interview, he was taken into custody and charged with:
- Theft of $300 to $10,000 from a Person 65 Years or Older
- Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony
- Use or Possession of an ID of Another Person Without Consent
The investigation remains ongoing.
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