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Magee Police Department
Press release
Chief Randy Crawford
On June 14, 2016, The Magee Police Department received a phone call from Mt. Olive Dollar General regarding two cars from Florida occupied by four male subjects and a female subject that came into their store and purchased several gift cards with what appeared to be a stolen credit card. When they were leaving the store, the clerk overheard them saying they were headed to Magee.
Officers arrived at the Magee Dollar General, observed the vehicles in the parking lot, at which time the vehicles left traveling north on Main Avenue. Officer Matt Sullivan stopped one vehicle in the East Side Community for traffic violation and noticed several receipts from the Mt. Olive Dollar General and a credit card had been thrown on the ground from the passenger side window.
Officer Sullivan detained the occupants and transported them to the Magee Police Department. Following the transport, Officer Sullivan found in the rear seat area of his patrol car, a torn credit card.
Officer Shane Little stopped the second vehicle in the East Side Community for a traffic violation and the occupants were transported to the Magee Police Department.
Officers found in each vehicle numerous credit cards and gift cards. Officers also found a lock safe in the trunk of the vehicle. Lt Joey Womack, Chief Investigator, obtained a search warrant to search the safe and found numerous credit cards in the suspect’s names, several other credit cards, gift cards, and blank cards.
Officers also found a embosser to make credit card numbers and names on cards.
MS Attorney General Investigator Doug Tyrone and Lt Joey Womack interviewed the suspects. Investigators determine that these individuals came from the Tampa, Florida area driving through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi areas buying gift cards with forged credit cards.
The police department seized approximately 172 credit cards, $2,420 in U S Currency, gold jewelry, and numerous items.
The suspects that were arrested were:
Javaris Brooks from Tampa, Florida; he was charged with Conspiracy to use a reencoder to alter credit cards, possession of a reencoder, conspiracy to use personal identity information, obtained personal identity information to commit a crime. Judge Knight set the bond $20,000 on each charge.
Shaquille Williams from Tampa, Florida: he was charged with Conspiracy to use a reencoder to alter credit cards, possession of a reencoder, conspiracy to use personal identity information, obtained personal identity information to commit a crime. Judge Knight set the bond $30,000 on each charge.
Zachariah Brooks from Tampa, Florida: he was charged with Conspiracy to use a reencoder to alter credit cards, possession of a reencoder, conspiracy to use personal identity information, obtained personal identity information to commit a crime. Judge Knight set the bond $20,000 on each charge.
Gregory Thompson from Tampa, Florida: he was charged with Conspiracy to use a reencoder to alter credit cards, possession of a reencoder, conspiracy to use personal identity information, obtained personal identity information to commit a crime. Judge Knight set the bond $20,000 on each charge.
A female juvenile 17 who was arrested for the same charges and was processed in youth court. This female was returned to the Magee Police Department to be prosecuted as an adult on all charges.
The males waived their preliminary hearing and were transported to the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department.
The Magee Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the MS Attorney General’s Office, the US Secret Service and the US Department of Homeland Security.
