Trio of prolific mail thieves busted in Marion County, charged with fraud, more

On June 16, detectives with Florida’s Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Property Crimes Unit arrested Tisaka Dawson, 47,  Ray Dearth, 50, and Anthony McLaughlin, 48, for numerous fraud and petit theft charges. Dearth and McLaughlin also had active warrants for similar charges. Dawson, who is on felony probation for similar charges, was charged with Violation of Probation.

Since early June, Property Crimes detectives Kasey Rekully, Bryant Rodriguez, Richard Truman, and Wady Sedan have been investigating several mail theft and fraud cases throughout Marion County. Through their separate investigations, it was determined that the mail thefts and fraudulent activities were committed by Dawson, Dearth, and McLaughlin. The group would drive around the county and steal mail containing checks, debit cards, and credit cards from victims’ mailboxes.

Several of the stolen checks were then forged in order to be cashed by the suspects; and the stolen bank cards were used to make an array of fraudulent transactions.

Be sure to always monitor your mail! If you are expecting any sensitive or banking information, be on the lookout for its arrival.  ~ MCSO

When the victims reported the stolen mail and subsequent fraudulent activity, Property Crimes detectives were able to determine the locations at which the checks were cashed and where the bank cards were used. Surveillance footage and business confirmed that in several separate incidents, Dawson, Dearth, and McLaughlin were the ones who illegally used the victims’ checks and cards.

The arrests of the trio went down on June 13 after Property Crimes detectives made contact with Dawson, Dearth, and McLaughlin to question them about the criminal activity. During separate interviews, all three confessed to stealing mail from mailboxes, fraudulently cashing several checks, and making fraudulent transactions with the stolen bank cards.

Dawson, Dearth, and McLaughlin were transported to the Marion County Jail, where they remain.

(Source & mugshots: Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Florida)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter