| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: DERA, MARK 0688 (AR12-3696) (12-312881) THE DEFENDANT DID KNOWINGLY COMMIT A SCHEME TO DEFRAUD, IN WHICH SHE CONDUCTED A SYSTEMATIC, ONGOING COURSE OF CONDUCT WITH INTENT TO DEFRAUD ONE OR MORE PERSONS, OR WITH INTENT TO OBTAIN PROPERTY FROM ONE OR MORE PERSONS BY FALSE OR FRAUDULENT PRETENSES, REPRESENTATIONS OR PROMISES OR WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATIONS OF A FUTURE ACT, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE NUMBER 817.034(4)(A)(3). ON 120412, I WAS DISPATCHED TO BELK DEPARTMENT STORE LOCATED AT 1801 NW HIGHWAY 19 IN CRYSTAL RIVER, IN REFERENCE TO A THEFT. UPON ARRIVAL, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE COMPLAINANT, MR DAVID REED, WHO IS THE REGIONAL LOSS PREVENTION MANAGER. THE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT HE CONCLUDED AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION IN WHICH ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES, THE DEFENDANT, MS DEANNA THOMPSON, WAS OBSERVED ON VIDEO, AND ALSO ADMITTED TO FRAUDULENTLY REFUNDING MERCHANDISE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON TO TWO GIFT CARDS, FROM WHICH SHE MADE PURCHASES. THE FIRST REFUND WAS ON 112912, IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT SELECTED A KITCHENAID MIXER FROM THE DISPLAY, BROUGHT IT OVER TO THE CHECK OUT COUNTER AND SCANNED IT AS A RETURN, PLACING $214.43 ON A BELK GIFT CARD, NUMBER 6064540000056222547. SHE ISSUED THAT GIFT CARD TO A FICTITIOUS NAME OF MORA JONES. ON 120312, THE DEFENDANT REMOVED A CUISINART FOOD PROCESSOR FROM THE DISPLAY, AND ALSO BROUGHT IT TO THE CHECK OUT COUNTER, SCANNED IT AND REFUNDED IT FOR $144.15 TO A BELK GIFT CARD NUMBER 60645400000105392390, IN THE NAME OF JOYCE DOUGLAS. BOTH ITEMS WERE NEVER PURCHASED BY THE DEFENDANT, THEY WERE JUST USED AS RETURNS FOR TWO GIFT CARDS, WHICH THE DEFENDANT REMOVED FROM THE STORE AND THEN AT LATER DATES, USED THEM TO PURCHASE ITEMS. THE COMPLAINANT PROVIDED ME WITH A DETAILED TRANSACTION HISTORY FOR BOTH GIFT CARDS, IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT MADE NUMEROUS PURCHASES. HE ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH THE TWO TRANSACTIONS, IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT MADE THE INITIAL REFUNDS FOR THE TWO BELK GIFT CARDS, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO RECORDS, ALONG WITH THE COMPLAINANTâS SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT. THE COMPLAINANT ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH A SECURITY CD, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO EVIDENCE. I THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT AND READ HER MIRANDA RIGHTS VIA PREPRINTED AGENCY CARD AND ASKED IF SHE UNDERSTOOD HER RIGHTS, TO WHICH SHE REPLIED THAT SHE DID. I THEN ASKED HER IF SHE WISHED TO SPEAK WITH ME AT THIS TIME, TO WHICH SHE ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD. THE DEFENDANT ADMITTED TO MAKING THESE TWO FRAUDULENT REFUNDS ON TO TWO BELK GIFT CARDS, IN WHICH SHE USED TO PURCHASE ITEMS FOR HERSELF AT THE STORE. SHE WAS VERY REMORSEFUL AND APOLOGETIC. SHE ALSO FILLED OUT A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO RECORDS. I ISSUED THE COMPLAINANT A PROPERTY RECEIPT FOR THE SECURITY CD AND A VICTIM RIGHTS BOOKLET AND CASE CARD WITH MY NAME AND CASE NUMBER AND ASKED THE VICTIM TO CONTACT THIS AGENCY WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS CASE. THE DEFENDANT WAS THEN PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED, (DOUBLE LOCKED), SECURED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $2,000.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. THE COMPLAINANT ALSO INFORMED THE DEFENDANT THAT SHE IS TERMINATED FROM HER EMPLOYMENT AND SHE WILL BE TRESPASSED FROM ALL BELK STORES. |
