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| Jeffrey Ziegler / PCSO |
Haines City Officer Accused of Using Dead Man’s Credit Cards for Thousands in Purchases
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Haines City police officer has been arrested after investigators say he used the identity and credit cards of a deceased man to make more than $10,000 in unauthorized purchases.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 24-year-old Jeffrey Ziegler was arrested Tuesday, June 2, 2026, following a fraud investigation involving identity theft and unauthorized credit card charges made after the victim's death.
Detectives say the crimes began the day after the victim died on February 28, 2024.
Investigators determined that between February 29, 2024, and March 12, 2024, unauthorized charges totaling $10,362.02 were made using the deceased man's credit cards.
The fraudulent activity reportedly went undiscovered for nearly two years. According to the sheriff’s office, family members found past-due notices while sorting through the deceased man's mail on December 31, 2025. The fraud was reported to authorities on January 2, 2026, prompting an investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Unit.
During the investigation, detectives learned that the victim had been living with his daughter and her boyfriend at the time of his death. The boyfriend was identified as Jeffrey Ziegler.
According to investigators, the victim’s daughter provided detectives with text messages sent by Ziegler during the period the fraudulent charges were made. Authorities said the messages placed him at several locations where the unauthorized purchases occurred, matching the timing and locations of the transactions.
The sheriff’s office said Ziegler was employed as a detention deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at the time the crimes were allegedly committed. At the time of his arrest, he was serving as a police officer with the Haines City Police Department.
“Knowingly stealing from someone who has died is just terrible. I’m not sure what he was thinking, but we are holding him accountable for his criminal behavior. This permanently ends his career in public safety, that’s for sure.”
— Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd
Ziegler was booked into the Polk County Sheriff’s Processing Center and charged with:
- Criminal Use of Personal Identification of a Deceased Person (F2)
- Grand Theft (F3)
- Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (F3)
- Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (F3)
- Unlawful Possession of Personal Identification Information (M1)
Following the arrest, Haines City Public Safety Director Joe Halman Jr. released a statement addressing the allegations.
“We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the alleged off-duty behavior of former officer Jeff Ziegler. We expect our officers to uphold the law and maintain integrity on and off duty. Based upon the information we have reviewed, he exercised exceedingly poor judgment. His actions do not reflect the values of this department. We remain committed to accountability and maintaining the public’s trust. Had he not resigned, he would have been terminated.”
— Joe Halman Jr., Public Safety Director, Haines City
According to the Haines City Police Department, Ziegler submitted a letter of resignation effective immediately upon his arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Haines City Police Department, Jeffrey Ziegler, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Grady Judd, identity theft, deceased person identity theft, credit card fraud, Haines City officer arrested, Florida crime news, Polk County news, public corruption, fraud investigation, officer resignation, Florida law enforcement, criminal charges
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