Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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August 14, 2008

Police make five arrests in forgeries

By Rich Flowers News Editor

The Athens Police Department arrested five people Tuesday in connection with an elaborate scheme to obtain and misuse identifying information.

Detective James Bonnette said he is still sifting though evidence and expects warrants to be obtained for two other conspirators.

The suspects were arraigned at the Henderson County Jail Wednesday. Kevin Wayne Whorton, 18, was charged with two counts of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. Bond on Wharton was set at $65,000.

Single counts of fraudulent use were filed against Amber Michelle Simpson, 20, Dennis Ray Harp, 39, and Jennifer Louise Brewer, 24. Bond on each was set at $25,000.

Bond on Gary Cody Jones, 40, who was charged with fraudulent use, was also wanted for a parole violation. The total bond on Jones was $30,000. All five come from outside the Athens area, Bonnette said.

Bonnette said the investigation began August 1 when an individual filed a forgery report with APD.

“There were checks being forged on the account when there were no stolen checks,” Bonnette said.

APD was already investigating some automobile burglaries that had occurred in the city in recent weeks, Bonnette said. He and Detective Adam Parkins began to link up some of the cases.

Bonnette said a Wal-Mart security video provided a break in the case. Investigators saw suspects using stolen information inside the store.

“Then we got a call that information from one of the vehicle burglaries had been used at a motel in Mesquite,” Bonnette said. “We had Mesquite Police make contact with the suspects there and identify them. Through that identification we were able to establish a residence in Athens on them.”

APD investigators and patrol officers converged on a South Palestine residence Tuesday afternoon. Police seized computers, printers and other devices used to print fraudulent checks and items of identification.

“They were using credit card numbers and putting them on Visa gift cards,” Bonnette said. “When the store ran the gift card it came back as a good credit card that still worked.”

Investigators also found that the suspects had used false identification to purchase a vehicle in the Dallas area.

Bonnette said stolen identification was discovered throughout the house, in vehicles parked there and in a burn pile in the yard.

“I’ve still not determined precisely what information has been used yet and what has not,” Bonnette said. “We still don’t have all of the victims notified.”

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