The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two business break-ins that occurred Saturday, September 3, 2016 in the Ferry Farm neighborhood. A Cut Above Hair Salon at 101 Randolph Road and Fabulous Finds Boutique at 429 Ferry Road had their glass front doors shattered by the culprit(s) between the hours of 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Each store was then vandalized and undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.
If anyone has any information about this crime, please contact the Stafford Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4400.
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Ferry Farm Businesses Broken Into Over Weekend
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How Are Local Agencies Adapting to the Heroin/Opiate Abuse Epidemic?
On September 9, 2016 at 2:00 pm the media is invited to attend a Narcan Training Session at the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. This is the last session of the training that is provided to patrol deputies by Stafford Fire and Rescue personnel. After the training, Stafford’s Operational Medical Director, Dr. Robert Fines will be available to discuss the local Opiate Abuse Epidemic including local and national statistics. Dr. Fines holds a volunteer position with the Fire and Rescue Department and oversees the County’s EMS operations. He is an Emergency Room Physician and provides care at both Stafford Hospital Center and Mary Washington Hospital through his practice, Fredericksburg Emergency Medical Alliance. Law Enforcement, as well as Fire and Rescue Personnel will also be available to provide information and answer questions.
The briefing will include information about the following topics:
Why does Narcan work and how quickly must it be administered?
Are there any side effects?
Did you know that Narcan dosages are adjusted and provided for K-9’s as they might ingest opiates while providing drug enforcement?
What is law enforcement's role in patient rescue for those who abuse narcotics?
Interested persons should be at the Sheriff’s Office/Fire and Rescue Lobby at the Toby Humphrey Building at 1225 Courthouse Road, Stafford VA 22554 by 1:45pm to attend this briefing. For more information contact M.C. Morris Moncure.
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School Zone Times and Flashing Light Reminders
Listed below are the scheduled times for the school speed zone flashing lights for all schools except for the five exceptions as specified:
High School:
7:15 – 8:15am 1:45 – 2:45pm
Middle:
7:45 – 8:45am 2:45 – 3:45pm
Elementary:
8:25 – 9:25am 3:15 – 4:25pm
Here are the Five Exceptions:
* The flashing lights on Telegraph Road are set to cover Shirley Heim Middle School and Widewater Elementary School times: 7:40 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. & 2.45 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
* The flashing lights on Courthouse Road are set to cover Colonial Forge High School, Rodney Thompson Middle School and Winding Creek Elementary School times: 7:10 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. & 1:45 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
* The flashing lights on Choptank Road, in the vicinity of Wood Drive, are set to cover A.G. Wright Middle School, Garrisonville Elementary School and Rockhill Elementary School times: 7:40 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. & 2:45 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
* The flashing lights on Mountain View Rd (Rt.627) West and East and at the intersection of Choptank Road and Route 627 are set to cover Mountain View High School and Margaret Brent Elementary School times: 7:10 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. & 1:45 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
* The flashing lights on Courthouse Road (Rt. 630) at Stafford Middle School are set to cover Stafford Middle School and Grafton Village Elementary School, at its temporary location, times: 7:40 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
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Local Man Arrested for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
In August 2016 an alert Stafford mother found an unknown number on her teenage daughter’s cell phone. The mother checked the phone and found inappropriate social media and text communications from a person who appeared to be an adult male. She then reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office.
On August 29, 2016 Stafford Detectives received consent from the mother and the 15-year-old female to assume the daughter’s identity and continue to communicate with the adult male. Det. Darryl Wells accessed social media sites and quickly established contact with the suspect. During subsequent online chats, the male described specific sex acts he wanted to perform with the juvenile that Det. Wells was portraying. The suspect arranged to meet the juvenile in person at a specific time and location.
Members of the Stafford Sheriff’s Office were awaiting the suspect’s arrival and arrested him on September 8, 2016. Gregory Frank Lagiovane, age 51 of Dunes Street in Fredericksburg, was arrested on one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, four counts of Use of an Electronic Communications Device to Solicit a Minor. He was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail and was incarcerated with no bond.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office conducts online investigations into persons who target children for exploitation. Detective Darryl Wells portrays juveniles in various social media and chat rooms to identify and locate individuals who are interested in such criminal activity.
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Florida Man Arrested on Fraud Charges in Stafford County
On September 9, 2016 at approximately 1645 hours, Stafford County Deputy C. L. McCormick responded to a Criminal Information Complaint at the Kargar Motors Car Dealership located at 3316 Jefferson Davis Highway. The employees advised that a young man and elderly female had come into the dealership earlier that day and the young male was attempting to purchase from them a $35,000.00 Jaguar. The man completed an online credit application and used the name Malachi Love-Robinson. The elderly female was listed as a co-signer on the credit application.
When Deputy McCormick interviewed the employees, he learned that while Mr. Love-Robinson and the elderly female were at the dealership, the employees there became suspicious of the situation due to some of the things Mr. Love-Robinson was saying. They googled his name and found that a subject with the same name had been arrested numerous times on fraud type charges in the State of Florida. The employees became more concerned because they felt Mr. Love-Robinson may be trying to fraudulently obtain the Jaguar and be stealing money from the elderly female he claimed to be his mother. The dealership told Mr. Love-Robinson that they would call him when his credit application was approved and he left the dealership.
Once Deputy McCormick had the information, the dealership called Mr. Love-Robinson and told him his credit had been approved to purchase the Jaguar. Mr. Love-Robinson returned to the dealership about thirty minutes later and began the process of purchasing the car. Deputy McCormick and Deputy Taylor had been waiting in a back room and then approached Mr. Love-Robinson and spoke with him. Malachi Love-Robinson told the deputies he had come to Virginia from the State of Florida to purchase a car for himself and another for his God-Mother who was with him. He stated she had agreed to co-sign the loan for the Jaguar he was going to purchase. He also admitted that he was out of jail on bond from the State of Florida for Practicing Medicine Without a License.
Deputies then spoke with the elderly lady that was with Mr. Love-Robinson. She advised that he was a distant relative of hers through her son’s wife etc., and he considered her to be his God-Mother. They asked if she felt she was in any danger or being taken advantage of and she stated she did not. They then questioned her as to her willingness to co-sign on the Jaguar. She advised she had no intentions of doing so. Deputy McCormick then showed her the credit application Mr. Love-Robinson had completed that had her information including her social security number listed on it. Her demeanor then changed and she stated she had not given permission to him to use her as a co-signer for this loan or any other. The car dealership as a favor to her ran her credit history and it was discovered there were two other loan applications submitted in the last couple days with her information on that she had not done. A check with her credit card company revealed there had been a $1200.00 charge the day before for two Ipad’s and a cell phone that she had not purchased. Mr. Love-Robinson had been bragging to the employees of the dealership earlier that day about two Ipad’s he had recently purchased. They were seized along with other items at the time of his arrest.
Detectives are currently investigating further leads in this case.
Mr. Love-Robinson was charged with the following offenses and is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond.
False Statements to Obtain Credit
Obtaining Money by False Pretenses
Identity Fraud
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Opioid Addiction Town Hall Sept 15 - Sponsored by Youth At-Risk Task Force
The community is invited to participate in a Town Hall-styled event on Opioid Addiction on Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Brooke Point High School.
This event will offer a variety of speakers and resources. Attendees will hear how addiction starts, discover the signs that appear if someone you love is abusing drugs, and learn of the resources available to help.
Several community resource representatives will be available. Speakers include a recovery addict who turned tragedy into triumph, a parent who has traveled the road with a heroin-addicted son, what is being seen on the streets by law enforcement and a legal perspective from the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
Event sponsored by the Youth At-Risk Task Force. Info flyer at the following Link: http://bit.ly/2bZddJw
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Robbery Suspects Sought
Stafford, VA. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a bank robbery that occurred this morning, Monday, September 12, 2016 at the Union 1st Market Bank located at 1044 Warrenton Rd in Stafford.
At approximately 10:30am this morning, multiple units from the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Union 1st Market Bank located at 1044 Warrenton Rd for a report of a bank robbery. Bank employees reported that two suspects entered the bank, walked up to the teller windows and demanded cash. Both suspects displayed a firearm during the robbery. The suspects fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of
cash.
The suspects fled the scene in a small two door vehicle which was later located approximately 2 miles away from the bank. The vehicle was unoccupied down a wooded trail off of Peacock Station Dr. Deputies discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen from Richmond City. Witnesses reported seeing a silver two door late model Mercedes Benz in the area at the same time the suspect vehicle pulled into the neighborhood. It’s believed that the suspects dumped the original getaway car and escaped in the silver Mercedes.
The first suspect is described as a black male, medium build, between 5’8” and 5’10” tall. The suspect was wearing blue jeans, a camouflage jacket with a yellow construction vest, a brown and white “truckers” hat, sunglasses and dark colored gloves. The suspect also had a camouflage bandana covering his face.
The second suspect is described as a black male, thin build, between 5’10” and 6’01” tall. The suspect was wearing blue jeans, a dark colored long sleeve shirt, a yellow construction vest, a brown and white “truckers” hat, sunglasses and dark colored gloves. The suspect was also wearing a dark colored bandana covering his face.
Anyone who has information as to the identity of the suspects is asked to contact the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4400, Stafford Crime Solvers at 540-659-2020 (where callers may remain anonymous) or TEXT “Stafford” + your tip to CRIMES (274637).
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CULPEPER MAN CHARGED WITH SOLICITING A MINOR
Stafford, VA. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of Fielding Smith Daniel, age 52, of 1123 South Blue Ridge Ave, Culpeper, VA. Daniel has been charged with two counts of Carnal Knowledge, two counts of Use of an Electronic Device to Solicit a Minor and two counts of Soliciting a Minor for Prostitution.
On August 24, 2016 the Stafford Sheriff’s Office received a report that a 14 year old female had run away from her grandmother’s residence located in Stafford County. Detective Joe Massine initiated an investigation into the missing juvenile. Detective Massine’s investigation revealed the juvenile had been communicating online with older men. Detective Massine was ultimately able to track the juvenile down on August 31, 2016 at the home of a friend. During the follow up investigation Detective Massine learned the juvenile had previously met up with an adult male that she had met online. That man was later determined to be Fielding Smith Daniel. Through the course of Detective Massine’s investigation he learned that Daniel had picked the juvenile up near her home and drove her to a nearby motel. Daniel engaged in sexual activity with the juvenile and paid her for the encounter. Daniel met up with the juvenile again approximately a week later and again engaged in sexual activity.
Detective Massine obtained warrants for Fielding Smith Daniel as well as a search warrant for Daniel’s home and vehicle located at the South Blue Ridge Ave address in Culpeper. Both the arrest warrants as well as the search warrants were executed on Friday, September 9, 2016. Stafford County authorities were assisted by the Culpeper Town Police and the Virginia State Police.
Fielding Smith Daniel is currently incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.
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Ferry Farm Baptist Church Burglarized
On the morning of September 12, 2016, a citizen walking his dog through the Ferry Farm Baptist Church parking lot noticed glass was broken out of a side entry door into the church. He immediately called the Stafford Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies arrived, they found the church had been burglarized. An interior door that led to the office area had been kicked in and numerous rooms and closets were ransacked. The intruder(s) vandalized among other things a thirty-two inch screen television and an electronic display screen. A bible was also ripped apart and thrown on the floor.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Stafford Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4400.
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Last Suspect Apprehended from August's Home-Invasion Robbery
In the early evening of September 18, 2016, Detective B.L. Surles received a tip that the fourth and final suspect in the August 28th armed home-invasion robbery had recently returned to Stafford County. Det. Surles received information that the suspect, Sean Russell Colley, was staying with a female companion on Spring Valley Drive in the southern portion of the county.
At approximately 8:00pm Colley was observed leaving the residence in a black Chrysler 300 and law enforcement followed. As he travelled north on Warrenton Road he began to swerve from lane to lane. A felony traffic stop was initiated near the intersection of Warrenton Road and Solomon Drive. Colley was taken into custody without incident.
Sean Russell Colley, age 31, of Washington Mill Road in King George Virginia, was charged with the following 11 counts from Stafford County: Abduction and Intimidation by Force; Breaking and Entering with Intent to Rape, Rob or Murder; Robbery; Conspiracy; Weapons Possession by a Felon; Use or Display of Firearm in the Commission of a Felony; Possession of Marijuana; Possess Distribute Controlled Paraphernalia; Carry Concealed Weapon – 1st Offense; Reckless Driving and Driving with a Suspended License. Colley also has outstanding felony charges from King George, VA and Charles County, MD.
Colley was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is being held with no bond.
For more information on the August incident, see the news release on this website dated August 29, 2016.
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Suspect in Custody Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Drowning Case
On Sunday evening, September 18, 2016 Chelie Legge Casswell, age 45, was taken into custody after being Indicted on one count of Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of Cruelty and Injury to a Child.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred August 13, 2016 when Casswell was babysitting a two-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl at their father’s home in Aquia Harbour. During Casswell’s time babysitting, she was notified by a neighbor that the two-year-old boy was found wandering down the street. After retrieving the boy from a neighbor’s house, Casswell discovered that the little girl was missing as well. The girl was found unresponsive in the pool at the home and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Casswell is incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail with a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned today in Stafford County Circuit Court.
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Stafford Sheriff's Office Offers Car Seat Checks as a Public Service
National Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept 18 – 24, 2016. Stafford County has certified car seat checks and offers that service by appointment. Making an appointment is as easy as filling in your contact information online http://bit.ly/2cLn57P
Remember you can never start too early to make safety a priority - but you can start too late. Whether your child rides in a rear-facing infant seat or is older and needs a booster, our office will ensure that the seat is safe.
Don’t put it off! Make an appointment today!
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Juvenile Drives Car Into Hidden Lake
September 20, 2016, at approximately 7:00 p.m. Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a water rescue call at Hidden Lake Subdivision in the western portion of Stafford County.
Two males, both juveniles, had been at the lake consuming alcohol. One of the juveniles attempted to drive a vehicle away from the lake. However, he placed the vehicle in reverse instead of drive and the car entered the water. When deputies arrived they discovered the vehicle semi-submerged about 25 feet from the shore.
Both teenagers managed to exit the vehicle unharmed. The driver, determined to be a 16-year-old high school student, was given a field sobriety test which he subsequently failed.
The juvenile was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and was released to the custody of his parents. Upon arriving at the home he became violent and threatened suicide. He was then transported to Mary Washington Hospital for further evaluation.
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Man Arrested on Multiple Shoplifting Charges
Beginning August 27 and reoccurring on September 3, and 10 incidents of shoplifting involving the same suspect took place at Walmart on Garrisonville Road.
Walmart’s Loss Prevention Officer reported that a middle-aged male wearing cargo shorts had been seen stealing electronics on the store surveillance video. The male would enter the electronics department and take Nest Security Cameras and hard drives. He would then leave the store without paying for the merchandise and would exit the parking lot in a green pick-up truck.
On September 19, 2016, the man was observed in the store by a Walmart employee who then contacted the Sheriff’s office. Deputies responded quickly to the scene and saw a man matching the description provided in the Walmart parking lot. He did not appear to be carrying or concealing any merchandise. When stopped and questioned he provided identification to law enforcement. After the information exchange, the man was free to leave.
The video footage was reviewed and the man who had identified himself as Christopher Alan Yeary was arrested in the early morning hours of September 23 for Shoplifting. Yeary, age 39, of Pratt Street in Stafford, was also charged with Driving with a Suspended License and Possessing an Expired Vehicle Registration. He is incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is held with no bond.
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Man Arrested for Failure to Appear
On September 23, 2016, at approximately 9:00pm, Stafford County Deputies C.N. Mireles and K-9 Officer A.S. Smith arrived at Barrows Court attempting to locate Isaac Moore. Moore was wanted on for Failure to Appear and several additional charges. K-9 Officer Smith accompanied Deputy Mireles on this call because Moore had been known to flee from law enforcement.
As deputies arrived at the location, Deputy Mireles approached the front door. Meanwhile, K-9 Officer Smith waited at the back of the townhome with his K-9 Partner Lobo. Deputy Mireles was invited into the residence and was advised that Moore was upstairs. When approaching the landing, the 18-year-old Moore saw law enforcement and ran into his bedroom. He then turned off the lights, locked and barricaded the door. Deputy Mireles kicked the door in and observed the suspect crouching outside on a windowsill. Moore jumped from the third-story bedroom window located at the front of the home. Mireles hastily descended the both sets of stairs but when arriving outside there was no trace of the suspect. While the house was being “cleared” a perimeter was established. While a search of the exterior was being conducted Deputy Mireles began to re-inspect the inside of the townhome. Returning upstairs he heard a soft banging coming from the third floor. The deputy followed the noise and observed brown insulation under an attic “hatch” in one of the bedrooms. He could hear quiet scraping and movement in the ceiling directly above where he was standing. Deputy Mireles announced several times that the suspect should surrender himself. Instead, the man chose to “worm” himself further into the insulation in the attic. K-9 Officer Smith and his K-9 partner Lobo responded upstairs. The suspect was advised that if he did not surrender the K-9 would be deployed. Moore then agreed to come down but advised that he could not get back to the attic hatch. As he began walking his foot fell through the ceiling. He then pushed his other foot through the ceiling, dropped to the floor and was taken into custody.
Deputies later realized that Moore had re-entered the home through a ground floor window and swiftly made his way back to the third-floor attic access while deputies were searching for him outside the premises.
Isaac Brickley Moore, age 18, was originally charged with Assault and Battery, Receiving Stolen Goods, Possession of Marijuana, Failure to Appear, as well as the most recent charge of Obstructing Justice. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail with no bond.
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Garrison Woods Shots Fired Incident Yields Weapons and Drug Arrest
On September 24, 2016, at approximately 11:00pm, Stafford County Deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the area of the 300 block of Garrison Woods Drive. Dispatch advised patrol that a silhouetted subject was witnessed shooting one round from a gun. No further information was provided by the caller. Once on the scene, deputies began to investigate by making inquiries as well as searching the grounds of the apartment complex. While rounding the corner of Building 200 Deputies L.A. Burgess and B.M. Kanterman observed a man exiting the apartment complex via a wood line and trail where suspicious activity is known to occur. The man was quickly ordered to raise his hands and comply with a search of his person.
The search revealed a handgun as well as multiple bags of narcotics. The man, later identified as Darnell Grayson, was arrested for two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Narcotics, Carrying a Concealed Firearm and Possession of a Firearm While in Possession of Schedule I/II Narcotics.
Darnell Jamal Grayson, age 20, of Knollwood Court in Stafford, was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is being held without bond.
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High-Speed Interstate Pursuit Leads to Arrest of Woodbridge Man
On September 28, 2016 at approximately 1:15am Deputy M.R. Flick was driving north on Interstate 95 in his marked patrol car when a vehicle passed him traveling more than 100 mph. This occurred near mile marker 143. Deputy Flick, with his emergency equipment activated, attempted to stop the suspect as he traveled weaving through traffic at approximately 120 mph. As they approached mile marker 145, the driver moved to the right lane and slowed his speed to about sixty mph but he did not pull over. The vehicle exited the interstate at mile marker 148, driving toward MCB Quantico, on eastbound Russell Road. He then pulled onto Caddy Drive and stopped.
The driver was commanded to show his hands, but for approximately two minutes he did not fully comply. He would show one hand and then the other – but never both. He finally placed his hands in the air and began to drive slowly to the end of Caddy Drive. Patrol deputies followed. He then drove off the road, into the wood line and hit a tree. He exited his car and stumbled into waist-high weeds where he fell down. He failed again to comply with commands and was subsequently arrested. Deputies detected the odor of alcohol emitting from his person.
Edward Lamont Tatum, age 29 of Armstead St. in Woodbridge, was charged with DUI – Third or Subsequent Offense, Eluding Police, Reckless Driving – Speeding over 80mph, Resisting Arrest, Driving with a Suspended/Revoked License and 3rd DWI Conviction in 10 Years. He was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is being held without bond.
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Thirty Staff Promotions Celebrated by Sheriff D.P. Decatur
On September 27, 2016 Stafford Sheriff’s Office held a reception that celebrated 30 individual promotions that have occurred over the last nine months.
The Sheriff invited family and close friends to a special ceremony celebrating the new positions/ranks of the employees of the Sheriff’s Office. More than 100 people were in attendance.
To those who received a promotion:
“You are each continuing on a very important journey that will help you make impactful decisions that can change and save lives. We are blessed to have such a hardworking team of individuals who show a passion for service and are committed to providing strong leadership to our organization…Continue your commitment by living and modeling our core values – Integrity, Compassion, Fairness, and Professionalism.”
To the family and friends gathered:
“You honor the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office with your presence. We thank you for sharing your loved ones with us and for understanding the commitment these men and women have made. We truly appreciate you being that pillar of strength and support to them.” said Sheriff Decatur.
Statistics:
“Of the thirty people who were promoted there were 488 years of law enforcement experience, 67 years of military service and experience, 10 Bachelor’s Degrees and 6 Associate’s Degrees,” added Major John W. McAlister, Commander Operations Bureau.
Those receiving promotions were:
Animal Shelter Assistant Manager Nicole Bates, Animal Shelter Manager Denise Spicer, Sergeant Eric Chinault, Sergeant Burton Collins, Sergeant Dale Colona, Sergeant Joseph Floirendo, Sergeant Gregory Haney, Sergeant William “Tyler” Johnson, Sergeant Alexandra Lugo, Sergeant Christopher Neuhard, Sergeant Michael Powell, Sergeant Jeremiah Rakoczy, First Sergeant Joseph Bice, First Sergeant Craig Cain, First Sergeant Christopher Cameron, First Sergeant Brandon Morris, First Sergeant Robert Pomeroy, First Sergeant Daniel Purcell, First Sergeant Christopher Truslow, Inspector Robert “Jason” Dembowski, Second Lieutenant Deuntay Diggs, Second Lieutenant David Stout, First Lieutenant Brian Jacobs, First Lieutenant Lee Peters, First Lieutenant Eric Quinn, Assistant Emergency Communications Manager Karen “Kisha” Stephenson, Captain George Bond and Captain Ray Davis.
Congratulations to all!
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Pair Extorts Funds While Holding Man Hostage in Apartment
On September 29, 2016 the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communication Center received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 8:50am from employees at the BB&T bank located at 760 Warrenton Road. The caller stated a witness reported an incident that occurred near the ATM. A woman had advised a bank employee that while she was in the parking lot an older white male had indicated that he was being robbed. The witness had observed the older male departing the parking lot in a car being driven by a younger black male and had provided the vehicle’s license plate.
The vehicle registration returned to an address on Cynthia’s Place. Units were quickly dispatched to the address and the vehicle was parked outside.
Deputies knocked at the door and an older man answered. He was quite disheveled in appearance and seemed exceedingly nervous and upset. He stepped out of his apartment and advised that he was being robbed by the two individuals that were now inside. He was escorted to safety and was subsequently treated for injuries sustained over the last several days which included broken bones and lacerations. Deputies and detectives re-entered the residents and found the two subjects inside. All parties were thoroughly interviewed. During the conversation with the victim, he indicated that the couple had been at his apartment since Sunday, September 25. Throughout that time the couple had forced the victim to withdraw money at the ATM and make a wide-variety of sizeable purchases using his credit card.
The Sheriff’s Office arrested the couple and charged them both with Extortion by Threat and Abduction to Extort Money.
Jamhal Blanks, 28-years-old of Windsor Ridge in southern Stafford and Brianna Archie, 18-years-old of Dillwyn Ct of Woodbridge are both incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail and are being held without bond.
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Seven Month Investigation Leads to Indictments for Two Counts Identity Fraud
On February 2, 2016 the Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a female reporting that her husband had been a victim of two large fraudulent withdrawals from their Bank of America checking account. The total of the two withdrawals was in excess of $7,000. Investigation into the frauds soon began.
Detective R.E. Firkin began the investigation with very little information. He followed leads to where the fraudulent checks were cashed. Each check was cashed by a teller but at a different Bank of America location. Both times fraudulent identification was presented and accepted by the teller. One check was cashed in Silver Spring, MD and the other at Eastpoint Financial Center in Baltimore. Det. Firkin requested evidence of the transactions from each branch. Once a photograph of the suspect was obtained a “Be On the Lookout” flyer was created and disseminated. Several leads were developed and pursued over the ensuing weeks. Detective Firkin and a detective with the Maryland Transportation Authority determined that they were looking for the same suspect. The Maryland detective was looking for a man who stole a wallet from the luggage dispenser at BWI and had made fraudulent purchases with the stolen credit cards.
On June 15, Detective Firkin received a phone call from a representative of Cardinal Bank. The bank officer stated that he was looking for information concerning a suspect who attempted to cash a counterfeit check at their bank in April 2016. While reviewing BOL alerts he believed his suspect matched the man in Detective Firkin’s case. Although the check was not cashed by Cardinal Bank, during the attempted transaction the man had presented a valid Virginia driver’s license. A copy of the driver’s license was then shared with Det. Firkin.
The man was identified as Gregory Horton of South Park Court in Woodbridge, Virginia. Detective Firken reconnected with the Maryland detective and provided him with Horton’s information. He then visited Horton’s address in Prince William and a resident of the home identified the male on the flyer as Gregory Horton.
On October 3, 2016 a Stafford County Grand Jury returned a direct indictment of Gregory Horton for two counts of fraud. These cases are challenging to solve and take many weeks, months and sometimes years to conclude. This particular case was successfully solved due to the images provided by the financial institutions. Many times frauds of this nature are conducted via online transactions by suspects outside of the area or even out of the country. The Sheriff’s Office reminds all citizens to check their bank accounts often, strengthen their passwords regularly and report any suspicious financial transactions by calling 540-658-4400.
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