Orlando police arrested three people in connection with an identity theft ring after an elderly man reported fraudulent charges to his credit card.
The 85-year-old victim reported his card had been used by someone who gave the name Chrystie Hall and used the card to rent a vehicle from Thrifty Car Rental at Orlando International Airport. He said his card had been charged $4,000.
http://liarcatchers.com/identity_theft_investigation.html
Investigators confirmed the car had been fraudulently rented, reported it stolen and activated its OnStar, which placed the vehicle in downtown Orlando.
Officers located the vehicle, Xavier Stephens, 27, and Bridgett Bennifield, 38, and transported them to the police department’s airport division.
Stephens and Bennifield had bags with numerous credit card documents in them, according to officials.
The documents appeared to be for reservations for travel and included arrival dates, lengths of stay, hotel information, names of guests, guests’ dates of birth and full credit card numbers with the expiration dates and security numbers.
Stephens was in possession of 1,787 documents and Bennifield was in possession of 68, authorities said.
Bennifield called Channel 9 and said the information that came from Orlando police was incorrect.
“I didn’t have no elderly people social security cards. I didn’t have none of that,” Bennifield said.
Police said the proof is in the multiple stacks of 1,855 personal information found in the hands of Bennifield and Stephens.
Investigators said Stephens and Bennifield told them Hall works at Preferred Guests Resorts and steals reservation documents that are supposed to be shredded, and sells them by the bag for $100 each. Stephens and Bennifield would resell the credit card documents for $50 per page, according to investigators.
The total resale value of the documents Stephens and Bennifield had in their possession was just shy of $93,000. Investigators said they told them they had been doing this since December, but police think it’s been going on for much longer.
“Orlando Police Department takes identity theft seriously and we will vigorously pursue anyone who goes after our residents or tourists,” said Sgt. Rhonda Huckleberry of the investigative unit. “This is a huge mess. A lot of our victims are elderly and from out of state.”
Hall, 37, was picked up and taken to the airport division where she requested a lawyer.
All three suspects, who have criminal histories, were transported to Orange County Jail.
Hall has been charged with trafficking in counterfeit credit cards, unlawful credit card lists, grand theft motor vehicle, conspiracy to grand theft and scheme to defraud.
Stephens has been charged with trafficking in counterfeit credit cards, 50 counts of fraud, unlawful credit card lists, grand theft motor vehicle and scheme to defraud.
Bennifield has been charged with trafficking in counterfeit credit cards, 50 counts of fraud, unlawful credit card lists, grand theft motor vehicle and scheme to defraud.
Police said more charges are pending.
