Jamel A. Gaither, 34, Stillwater, was charged in Dakota County District Court July 17 with two counts of felony financial transaction card fraud use without consent of more than $250 up to $2,500.
According to the complaint, on Dec. 29, 2022, a report of credit card fraud was received by the West Saint Paul Police department. The reporting party, Victim #1, stated that his wallet was stolen out of his vehicle at his jobsite. Shortly after, Victim #1’s credit card was used at two different stores in West Saint Paul on six different occasions for a total of $594.50. A later attempt at a third store was declined. An officer reviewed surveillance footage from the stores and identified Gaither as the individual making the fraudulent purchases. The officer observed that Gaither left one of the stores in a vehicle that was registered to his mother.
On Jan. 9, 2023, another individual, Victim #2 reported that her credit cards had been stolen from her vehicle and were now being used at a store in West Saint Paul. Victim #2 reported that her credit cards were used to make fraudulent transactions in the amounts of $1,060, $582.18, and $421.00. She cancelled the credit cards after finding out they were being used without her consent. Law enforcement learned that these transactions were made to purchase Visa gift cards. It was determined that the phone number tied to the gift cards belonged to Gaither. A court summons was issued.
