Georgia gang-banger, 31, pulls off biggest heist EVER from inside prison as he steals $11M from billionaire and buys $4.4m Atlanta mansion using smuggled-in cell phone... and a very cunning plan

A Georgian gang inmate serving 14 years for armed robbery allegedly impersonated a billionaire while locked up in a maximum-security prison and stole $11million - using the cash to buy a mansion in Atlanta. 

Arthur Lee Cofield Jr, is accused of accessing the accounts of Sidney Kimmel, whose entertainment company is behind films such as 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'Moneyball', from inside a Georgia prison with the help of contraband cell phones.

Cofield, 31, is said to have stolen the identity of the movie mogul, who is worth $1.5billion, and then moved an eight-figure-sum out of his account to purchase a $4.4million property, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The scheme is believed to amount to one of the largest heists pulled off from inside an American prison.

At a previous bond hearing, federal prosecutors also said evidence suggested Cofield stole $2.25million from an account belonging to Nicole Wertheim, the wife of Florida billionaire Herbert Wertheim, the Journal reported.

Arthur Lee Cofield Jr, 31, is accused of stealing $11million from billionaire Sidney Kimmel by using contraband cell phones while in prison

Colfield is said to have impersonated Kimmel (pictured) over the phone and moved $11million out of his account to purchase a property in Atlanta

At a previous bond hearing, federal prosecutors also said evidence suggested Cofield stole $2.25million from an account belonging to Nicole Wertheim, the wife of Florida billionaire Herbert Wertheim

Cofield, Eldridge Bennett, 65, and his daughter, Eliayah Bennett, 27, have all pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering.

Cofield was able to obtain multiple means of identification for Sidney Kimmel by using a contraband cell phone and subsequently gained access to his Charles Schwab account in June 2020.

He impersonated the billionaire on the phone to a customer service representative in order to open a checking account.

With access to Kimmel's driving license, a utility bill and the help of a co-conspirator outside of prison, he was able to complete the verification process.

Colfield is serving 14 years for armed robbery in a maximum-security prison in Georgia