VALDOSTA – Five individuals were arrested at Valdosta a inn for credit card fraud when over 490 gift cards and credit cards were recovered.
Release:
Arrested 1: Donte T. Leonard, African American male, 25 years of age, Brooklyn, NY resident
Arrested 2: Raymond Kensworth-Williams, Jr., African American male 25 years of age, Bridgeport, CT resident
Arrested 3: Shadane S. Henry, African American male, 29 years of age, Brooklyn, NY resident
Arrested 4: Fredrick R. Byfield, African American male, 44 years of age, Phoenix, AZ resident
Arrested 5: Avonte Radway, African American male, 20 years of age, NY resident
On December 11, 2023, at approximately 8:56 am., Valdosta Police Officers responded to Comfort Inn and Suites in the 1700 block of West Hill Avenue after a citizen called E911 to report fraudulent charges on a credit card. When officers arrived at the motel, they received information that a subject had rented four motel rooms with the fraudulent credit card. They were made aware that the possible offenders were attempting to leave in two vehicles. Officers stopped the two vehicles in the parking lot and made contact with Donte T. Leonard, 25 years of age, Shadane S. Henry, 29 years of age, and Avonte Radway, 20 years of age, all of which were from New York. Officers also made contact with Raymond Kensworth-Williams, Jr. 25 years of age, from Connecticut, and Fredrick R. Byfield, 44 years of age, from Arizona.
Detectives from the Valdosta Police Department Property Crimes Unit responded to the scene to investigate the incident.
Through investigation detectives located over 230 credit cards that did not belong to any of the subjects detained. They also recovered over 260 gift cards, which appeared to have been purchased by fraudulent means.
All five subjects were arrested and transported to Lowndes County Jail. They have been charged with possession of stolen property and financial transaction card theft.
Detectives are working with numerous other agencies, including the United States Secret Service. This investigation is on-going.
If anyone has any information, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Investigations Bureau at 229-293-3145 or the Crime Tip Line at 229-293-3091.
