A routine traffic stop in North Naples on Thursday turned into a massive fraud investigation, leading to the arrest of a Georgia man and a Pennsylvania woman who Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) detectives believe may be part of an organized fraud group operating in numerous states.
Nadiyah Cherie Lewis, 32, of Philadelphia, and John Lawrence Byrd, 56, of Brookhaven, GA, are currently being held in the Collier County Jail on several fraud-related charges.
The incident began when deputies stopped a black Cadillac SUV on U.S. 41 North near Main House Drive because its license plate was not visible. When deputies stopped the vehicle, they discovered that both the driver, Byrd, and his passenger, Lewis, had active extraditable warrants for their arrest, including credit card fraud. They were quickly put into prison.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed an important discovery: multiple gift cards, credit cards, and identity cards belonging to people from other states. Detectives promptly spoke with several of the victims, who confirmed they had been victims of “distraction thefts.” This sort of crime involves burglars acting in couples or groups to distract someone, usually in a store or parking lot, while an accomplice steals their belongings. The victims revealed that the perpetrators used their credit cards for fraudulent transactions, including the purchase of gift cards.
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk praised the deputies and investigators for their efforts, saying, “This was outstanding work by our deputies and detectives, whose sharp eyes and keen instincts took this from a simple traffic stop to a potential fraud investigation involving victims in other states.”
Detectives think the recovered materials are related to the illegal activities of organized groups that engage in gift card fraud in Florida and other jurisdictions. Officials continue the investigation to uncover the full scope of the suspected fraud ring and track down any additional victims or collaborators.
