Pass Christian Police have arrested a woman they were searching for in connection to a possible credit card fraud scheme, all thanks to a Coast casino security guard, Police Chief Timothy Hendricks said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Pass Christian Police Department called for the public’s help in identifying a woman wanted in connection to a credit card fraud investigation his department was working on. The PD released an image to local media of the suspect captured on video surveillance at the Pass Christian Wal-Mart.
After the photo of the woman circulated, Hendricks said security personnel from the Beau Rivage Casino recognized her and alerted the Biloxi authorities.
“In fact, the woman appeared to be wearing the same clothes and carrying the same purse shown in the video,” Hendricks said in a press release issued Thursday afternoon.
33-year-old Yilka Ocana Martinez, who is from Cuba and in the U.S. on a visa, was arrested and charged with two counts of credit card fraud, according to authorities. One count, Hendricks said, stemmed from a December incident and another from back in August. Hendricks said the two counts of fraud involve the use of a “cloned credit card.”
Bond was set by Judge Ladner at $20,000.
Hendricks says the Pass PD has received calls from other Coast Law Enforcement Agencies that believe Martinez may be a person of interest in cases that had taken place in their jurisdiction.
“At least two other agencies here on the Coast believe she is a person of interest in cases they are working,” Hendricks said. “We may even send this case over to the FBI. This could help shut down a bigger operation.”
