A man is facing charges after authorities say he was “fraudulently representing himself as a licensed attorney.” Authorities say Ramond Davis, Jr., was contacting inmates at the Tarrant County Jail offering legal services. “This is a guy that appeared to be a con artist, where he was sh owing up when families were very vulnerable,” said Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn. They say he went by the name Justin on video calls at the jail and would arrange to meet with the inmate’s family. He would then collect payments of about $3,000. “They’d pay a fee, and nothing happens,” Waybourn said. The Sheriff’s Office says investigators determined Davis isn’t a licensed attorney. NBC 5 reached out to Davis’ attorney, who declined to comment at this time. The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office and Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office are working on the investigation. “You know, on my watch, this is the first time that we’ve had this where we’ve had somebody posing as an attorney that absolutely was in it to gain money to get people out of jail,” Waybourn said. He said Davis was targeting Spanish-speaking families. “Which makes it even more appalling, quite frankly,” said Dana Manry, an attorney in Tarrant County. Manry said she was “very shocked” by the case. “It’s very sort of appalling for those of us who try and serve the citizens of Tarrant County for somebody to take advantage of them in this manner,” she said. She thinks his low fee may have been appealing for families who were looking for a low-cost option. “I think the big deal is… he’s not just preying on inmates. In my opinion, and not knowing all the facts yet, he’s preying on their families who are trying to protect an inmate. Or if an inmate has been wrongfully charged, or anything like that, which happens, he’s preying on their families, and that is what is concerning,” Manry explained. She said $3,000 is still a lot for many. “I feel for the families, and I hate it when our profession gets a mark on it like this,” Manry said. It’s shocking to Dallas appellate attorney Chad Ruback, too. “Someone who’s in jail, whether they’ve done something wrong or not, is in a really bad spot and they know it,” he said. He’s been in practice for nearly 30 years and says he’s never come across this. “It’s just absolutely reprehensible. This guy, this guy going by Justin, he deserves to be in jail with these folks he’s purporting to help,” Ruback said. “Certainly, it’s worth noting that falsely holding oneself out to be a lawyer for economic benefit– and it sounds like that’s what this gentleman, Justin, is doing– is a felony.” The Sheriff’s Office says Davis faces several charges and is out on bond right now. They believe there are more victims and are asking people to come forward. If you may have been contacted by Davis or someone else in a similar case, you can contact the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office at 817-884-1400 and ask to speak with investigator T. Johnson or V. Espino-Nevarez. Attorney tips Ruback and Manry urge people to do a simple check of an attorney’s name through the Texas Bar’s website. “You can look up anybody, and it will tell you whether they’re a licensed attorney, whether they’re in good standing or not,” Manry said. She also said a simple Google search helps to figure out an attorney’s track record and references. Manry says it’s also a good idea to shop around and get different opinions, just like you might for medical advice. There are also resources like Legal Aid that provide free help for certain cases, or you can get a court-appointed attorney. “So, families don’t necessarily have to go through this process, but there are other avenues for them,” Manry said. ...read more read less