Crime & Safety

Facebook Post by Suspect Won't Help Theft Case

The following arrest information was supplied by the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety. It does not indicate a conviction.

An Alpharetta man didn't help his theft case much by making a Facebook post with a photo showing him displaying money and saying "I love my job."

Alpharetta police were called to the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Haynes Bridge Road by a loss prevention officer. The officer said the store had overwhelming evidence that the suspect had taken $3,180 over a 5-day period from a cash register in the store.

An audit of a register showed it kept coming up short large amounts of money starting March 10.  Several cashiers use a single till during the day and each are logged as using it. But only two names came up as using the register on all of the days during which money was missing on March 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Amounts taken each day ranged from $160 to $780.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The loss prevention officer showed Alpharetta police officers video of a suspect palming money from cash registers and putting it into his pocket.

A Walmart associate who is a Facebook "friend" with the suspect came forward with the photos of the suspect on Facebook displaying money, which will be collected as evidence.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Beshaw U. Ogbonna, 21, of Alpharetta, was arrested and charged with theft by taking greater than $1,500, which is a felony.

Woman Arrested After Fraudulent Check Use

An Atlanta woman was arrested after Alpharetta police say she tried to return nearly $1,000 in merchandise to Big Peach Running Co. that was bought with a fraudulent check two days earlier.

The store manager told police that the general manager of the store told him the suspect made two other purchases in the store in Decatur on March 15 and 16 for $2,000 using checks.  She attempted to return some of the merchandise for a cash refund. When the suspect returned to the Windward Parkway store to return merchandise, he recognized her and called police.

She identified herself as Crystal Mattox. But when police searched her car, they found several checks with a different name on them, in addition to credit cards with that person's name on them. Also found in the car were two identical packets of orders from the U.S. army, using the Mattox name and the victim's name, a soldier who is deployed in Germany.

Ladash Chinquite Cooper, 27, of Buckhead Loop, Atlanta, was arrested and charged with forgery (2nd and 4th degree), identity fraud and giving false information. She was in Fulton County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bond. She's also being held for Hope Mills Police Department in North Carolina, awaiting extradition.

Limousine Company Owner Charged with Theft

A Marietta limousine company owner has been arrested on a theft by conversion charge over a car that he was supposed to sell for the victims.

A Watkinsville woman told Alpharetta police that she and her ex-husband turned the vehicle over to the suspect with the intent to sell the car. The victim said she and her husband paid the suspect $2,500 for the difference between the sales price covering the repairs and what a buyer was willing to pay. But the vehicle still hasn't been paid off at the bank, and her ex-husband received a call from the bank stating the vehicle loan was in default.

The vehicle was found at Greene Classic Limousines in Atlanta.

Brian David Green, 45, of Marietta, was arrested and charged with felony theft by taking and two counts of auto theft. He was released on $15,000 bond.

Acworth Man Accused of Fraud Over Craigslist iPad Sales

An Acworth man was arrested recently after he failed to deliver two iPads he sold to an Alpharetta man through Craigslist in May 2012.

The Alpharetta man was told to text to the suspect, and then told to buy a MoneyPak card, put $600 in it and forward the ID number. When the suspect said he was running late and would offer AppleCare warranties for both iPads for $150 for the victim's troubles. The victim did that, but despite several more promised shipping dates, the iPads were never delivered.

Brandon P. Williams, 27, of Mars Hill Church Road, Acworth, was arrested and charged for identity fraud and theft by taking. He was released on $5,000 bond on March 20.

For questions about this blotter, email Bob Pepalis.


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