Seminole County man arrested in Alachua for using children to ask for money

ALACHUA, Fla. (WCJB) - A traffic stop in the city of Alachua led to a shocking discovery where one man was using children to fraud people out of money.

Gilbert Jean, 36, of Seminole County is charged with contributing to children becoming delinquents, drug possession, and driving with a suspended license.

On Saturday, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stopped a man in a van after running his license plate and discovering his driver’s license was invalid. The license plate reader stated the man, who was Jean, had 15 prior charges for driving with a suspended license. When the trooper went up to the car, Jean could not provide a license to him.

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According to the arrest report, the trooper saw a child in the backseat of the van. He asked who the child was, and Jean said his name was “Justin.” The boy later told the trooper Justin was not his name.

The trooper asked Jean if he had a medical marijuana card because of the strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and he said no. A search of the car revealed 18 grams of marijuana in a backpack, as well as a THC pen. The trooper also found a scale and charged Jean with the intent to distribute drugs.

The child said that he was aware there was marijuana in the car.

After his arrest, troopers discovered Jean brought four children from the Orlando area into Alachua County to use them to ask people for money. Jean and the children were operating under a fraudulent non-profit organization called “Awareness Youth.”

The children were found in separate locations by assisting troopers. They say the children were instructed to roam the streets asking for money under Jean’s guidance. The children were left unattended.

It was later disclosed that the children only kept $4 for every $10 they made.

Jean is currently being held at the Alachua County Jail on a $76,000 bond.

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