Former Deputy Sheriff Uses Deception to Leak Information and Expose Misconduct

Several years ago, John Mark Dougan, a former deputy sheriff in Palm Beach County, Fla., engaged in a series of deceptive actions that drew attention.

At one point, he sent an email to voters, pretending to be a county commissioner, and encouraged them to oppose the re-election of the county’s sheriff.

Online Masquerade as a Russian Tech Worker

Mr. Dougan also assumed the identity of a Russian tech worker using the pseudonym BadVolf. Under this false identity, he leaked confidential information in violation of state law. This ruse successfully fooled Florida officials, who believed they were corresponding with a foreign individual.

Additionally, he posed as a fictional New York City heiress named Jessica. In this persona, he managed to trick an adviser to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office into disclosing improper conduct by the department.

Mr. Dougan confirmed his involvement in these incidents, stating, "And boy, did he ever spill ALL of the beans."