Top row, from left: Prince C. Arnold, Anisa C. Higginbitham, Kristin R. Vanschoyck, Darrien R. Ward and Madison M. Zuk are facing charges of fraud and criminal organizational activity. Bottom row, from left: Lawrence Armstrong, Carissa A. Bealor, Hollie D. LaChapelle, Moesha Monique Savanna Payne, Dylnn V. Scott are facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and criminal organizational activity. (LaPorte County Jail)
Instead of making biscuits from scratch, a group of Hardee’s employees in Indiana allegedly baked an elaborate fraud scheme.
According to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, the jail administrator noticed an inordinate amount of money going into the communication accounts of inmates. The same inmates were then using those funds to bond out, leaving with jail-issued debit cards.
Capt. Andy Hynek initiated an investigation and uncovered a “complex scheme” involving several employees at a Hardee’s restaurant in Michigan City along with other people, a press release said. In August and September, a few employees took photos of drive-thru customers’ credit and debit cards, investigators said. The employees took the credit card numbers and used them to deposit money into the communication accounts of inmates with low bond amounts.
“The inmates were bonding out almost immediately utilizing the fraudulent funds on their Securus account,” police said.
The bonded-out inmates were then “transported” to ATMs where the remaining balance on the jail-issued debit cards were withdrawn. Investigators determined nearly $15,000 was stolen from customers. The Hardee’s customers who had their credit card numbers stolen are working with their financial institutions to try to get their money back, the agency said.
“The investigation uncovered a complex fraudulent scheme,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Capt. Derek Allen in a statement to Law&Crime. “We are very fortunate Captain Hahn, and the Jail Administration caught the irregularities shortly after they began to occur before more citizens were victimized.”
Investigators issued felony arrest warrants for 10 people on charges of fraud and criminal organizational activity.
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Five face fraud and criminal organizational activity charges:
• Prince C. Arnold
• Anisa C. Higginbitham
• Kristin R. Vanschoyck
• Darrien R. Ward
• Madison M. Zuk
Five others are facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and criminal organizational activity.
• Lawrence Armstrong
• Carissa A. Bealor
• Hollie D. LaChapelle
• Moesha Monique Savanna Payne
• Dylnn V. Scott
Everyone except for Scott has been arrested.
From the LaPorte Sheriff’s Office:
If you know of Scott’s whereabouts, you are encouraged to provide your tip(s) to FAST (219-608-9572) or Michiana Crime Stoppers (800-342-7867).
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
