A local man was arrested by the Caddo-Shreveport Financial Crimes Task Force after posing as an FBI agent to get money from a senior citizen, said Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator.

Task force members were contacted on Thursday by a retired doctor who believed he was being scammed out of money. The doctor, who is over 80, said he received a phone call last week from a person claiming to be an agent with the FBI. The "agent" said Mark Kennedy, an employee who does maintenance work for the doctor, was in danger from the mob. The doctor was instructed to put $400 in the mailbox so Kennedy could be placed in the witness protection program. The doctor followed the instructions, and the money was picked up by an unknown person.

On Thursday, the doctor was contacted again by the "agent." This time, he asked for $2,000. Members of the Financial Crimes Task Force conducted a surveillance of the mailbox and moved in to make an arrest when the suspect showed up to collect his cash. e suspect attempted to run, but was captured after a brief chase.

The suspect was identified as Mark Anthony Kennedy, 52, the long-time employee of the retired doctor. Kennedy was arrested for theft of assets of an aged person. He is currently being held at the Shreveport City Jail awaiting transfer to Caddo Correctional Center.