Traffic stop nets couple dealing in multi-state thefts and credit card fraud

(Pictured: Nadiyah Cherie Lewis, John Lawrence Byrd, Image credits, CCSO)

On August 1, Florida’s Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) reported that a traffic stop on Thursday in North Naples led to the recovery of numerous suspected stolen IDs and gift cards – and the arrests of a Georgia man and a Pennsylvania woman who CCSO detectives said may be tied to an organized fraud group across multiple states.

Nadiyah Cherie Lewis, 32, of Philadelphia, Pa., and John Lawrence Byrd, 56, of Brookhaven, Georgia., are in the Collier County jail on multiple fraud-related charges.

“This was outstanding work by our deputies and detectives whose sharp eyes and keen instincts took this from a simple traffic stop to a potential fraud investigation involving victims in other states,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said.

Background: On July 31, deputies pulled over a black Cadillac SUV with no visible license plate that was heading north on U.S. 41 North near Main House Drive. Further investigation found both the driver, Byrd, and his passenger, Lewis, had active extraditable warrants, including warrants for credit card fraud. They were taken into custody.

A search uncovered multiple gift cards, along with credit cards and other forms of identification of people from other states. Detectives made contact with several of the individuals, who reported being a victim of a distraction theft in which their wallet or purse was stolen and then their credit cards were later used to make fraudulent purchases, including gift cards.

(Note: A distraction theft is a type of crime where thieves work in pairs or groups to distract a victim, often in a parking lot or store, while an accomplice steals purses, wallets or other valuables.)

Detectives said the recovered gift cards and IDs were indicative of criminal activity associated with organized groups involved in gift card fraud in Florida and other states.

The Sheriff’s Office said that their investigation into this case remains active and ongoing.

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(Source and mugshot images: Collier County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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