LOWNDES CO. – On Wednesday afternoon at around 3:15 p.m., a deputy assigned to the Interstate Criminal Enforcement team stopped a vehicle on Inerstate 75 near the 7 mile marker after noticing the car had unusually dark,
and obviously illegal, window tint.

During the stop, the deputy spoke with the driver and passenger who stated they were travelling to Chicago while an assisting deputy checked the window tint, which measured 4%.

While speaking with the pair, the deputies noticed the driver and passenger were unusually nervous. The pair granted permission to search the car, and while doing so, the deputies located two driver licenses with the pictures of the driver and passenger but with other names.

The deputies also located 17 financial transaction cards (credit/debit cards) which, when checked, were encoded with banking information different than that embossed on the card face and is most likely stolen.

The driver, Yimy Gonzalez, 34, and passenger, Luis Perez, 21, both of Tampa, Fla., were placed under arrest and taken to the Lowndes County Jail. Both men have been charged with financial transaction card forgery forgery, according to reports.

“The seizure of 17 fraudulent credit/debit cards seems relatively small, but that is 17 victims who have been impacted. This is great example of how the work of our I.C.E. team has a far reaching impact. Maybe this prevented 17 people from being victimized anymore,” said Sheriff Chris Prine.

Anyone with information about this or any other incident can contact the Sheriff’s Office at {229} 671-2950; or anonymous tips can be provided at {229} 671-2985 or on-line at www.lowndessheriff.com. The Sheriff’s Office is also accessible on Facebook.

Release from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office