A routine traffic stop by the Tennessee Highway Patrol Interdiction Plus Chattanooga District led to the recovery of 50 activated stolen credit cards totaling $800,000 in stolen credit.
A vehicle was stopped on I-24 in Coffee County for a traffic violation on Jan. 31. A trooper smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and performed a probable cause search revealing marijuana debris and a partially smoked marijuana cigarette in the center console.
Two troopers searched the vehicle and located 18 counterfeit credit cards, along with several fake IDs. The vehicle was a stolen rental car, rented using a fraudulent credit card.
Three people were arrested, Demetrius Lamons, 22, of Marita, Ga., Rani Andrews, 18, of Douglasville, Ga., and Catina Galbreath, 19, of Lithia Springs, Ga.
When they booked the suspects, one of the females revealed 32 additional credit cards concealed on her person, bringing the total to 50 fraudulent credit cards. All of the credit cards were activated for use.
Lamons was charged with driving on a revoked driver license and possession of a stolen vehicle. Andrews and Galbreath were each charged with theft of a vehicle, identity theft trafficking, criminal simulation and fraud.