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Betty Idol walked out of jail after posting a $300,000 bond, and Sheriff Mike Chitwood is blaming the judge who eased one condition.
Chitwood questioned the court’s approach after investigators spent nearly a year building the alleged $200,000 real estate fraud case.
“It would be nice if certain judges took these cases as seriously as law enforcement does. Last week, we arrested Salome Jackson from ‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta’ and ‘Cartel Crew’ on charges of theft, fraud and money laundering after an 11-month Volusia Sheriff’s Office investigation into an international real estate fraud case that cost a local victim $200K.
According to Chitwood, deputies stopped the reality personality at an airport before she could board an international flight to Colombia.
“We booked her in jail with a $300,000 bond and one condition: To bond out, she had to produce proof that her bond funds were not derived from a criminal source. That was the case until Judge Kathleen McNeilly removed that condition, allowing Salome to post bond, no verification of funds needed. So guess what? She posted bail yesterday afternoon and walked free,” Chitwood fumed.
The release follows AllHipHop’s earlier report on Betty Idol’s arrest, where records identify her as Salomes Rengifo Jackson.
Investigators began working on the case after Orange City victims reported losing $196,786.65 while trying to purchase property adjacent to their mobile home park.
FOX 35’s affidavit review says impostors used fake identification to impersonate owners and divert the sale proceeds to fraudulent accounts.
Detectives traced $178,786.65 of the stolen money to Betty Idol through bank records, ATM footage, purchases, withdrawals and financial evidence.
Authorities accuse Betty Idol of directly controlling accounts used to receive and move money through shell businesses before cash withdrawals and spending followed.
She is charged with money laundering, grand theft, organized scheme to defraud and identity theft, and she has not been convicted.
Chitwood closed his statement by criticizing McNeilly’s bond decision and pointing toward her next election.
“It’s just Judge ‘Kick Em Loose’ McNeilly’s latest slap in the face to law enforcement and to real victims of crime in our community. Keep these things in mind when she asks for your vote,” Chitwood said.
McNeilly currently handles felony criminal and Drug Court cases in Volusia County, while the county elections office lists her next election for 2030.
