The Arizona Republic reports:

Two employees of a Phoenix loan company are accused of posing as Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives since 2009 in an apparent attempt to collect loan payments

Merle Madison, 50, and Paul Romero, 31, who both worked at the Cash Time Title Loan Company on 43rd and Glenrosa avenues, were arrested Tuesday and could face charges.

A Sheriff’s Office employee was receiving calls from people claiming they were
contacted by a Sheriff’s Office detective. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation in February.

Sheriff’s Office investigators suspected employees at Cash Time Title Loan Company were representing themselves as law enforcement officers in an attempt to intimidate clients to repay loans or turn in
vehicles to be used as collateral for the loans.

The victims said someone claiming to be a “Detective Maxwell” would call about their late loan payment and warn that they could be subject to arrest.

After a months-long investigation, investigators suspect that two employees
used a calling system that caused the Sheriff’s Office telephone number to appear  in the receiver’s caller identification.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the two employees had apparently made more than 1,700 calls since early 2009 acting as detectives.

The Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in late May on Cash Time Title Loans when detectives said Madison “admitted” to being “Detective Maxwell,” according to court documents.

One could be charged with impersonating a peace officer, and the second could be charged with conspiracy to aid in impersonating a peace officer.

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