By Ponoka News Staff
The Ponoka RCMP arrested three people for credit card fraud Oct. 8 after a female and male suspect attempted to pay for a hotel room with false identification and invalid credit card information.
When the two suspects were alerted that the police had been called they fled from the front counter.
Upon investigation, Ponoka RCMP discovered that five suspects had been occupying three different hotel rooms.
Three suspects were taken into custody, and two suspects remain at large. One male was found to be in possession of brass knuckles.
Ponoka RCMP executed a search warrant on the hotel rooms and located computers, printers, card laminating equipment, external hard drives, USB thumb drives, photography equipment, along with credit card and identification information. All of these items were being used to create fake identification and credit cards.
Judicial Interim Release hearings were conducted for the three accused. Outcomes and charges are as follows:
James MacNeil, 36, from Red Deer was released from custody on his own recognizance for court in Ponoka on Oct. 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He is charged with:
- Fraudulent Obtaining Lodging
- Instrument for use in forging credit cards
- Make use or possess exchequer bill paper, public seals, etc. Forgery o Possession of Forged Document
- Possession of Credit Card Data
- Forge or Falsify Credit Card
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Fail to Comply with Undertaking
- 4 Counts of Breach of Probation
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
- Carry Concealed Weapon
- Possession of Identity Documents
19-year-old Karmeryne Boyd from Red Deer was released from custody on her own recognizance for court in Ponoka on October 25th, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. She is charged with:
- Fraudulently Obtain Lodging
- Instrument for use in Forging Credit Cards
- Make Use or Possess Exchequer Bill Paper, Public Seals, Etc.
- Forgery o Possession of Forged Document
- Possession of Credit Card Data
-Forge or Falsify Credit Card
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Fail to Comply with Undertaking
- 2 counts of Breach of Recognizance
- Obtain or Possess Identity Information o Possession of Identity Documents
28-year-old Brendyn Beaulieu from Edmonton was remanded in custody until his next court appearance in Ponoka on Oct. 25, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He is charged with:
- Fraudulently Obtain Lodging
-Instrument for use in Forging Credit Cards
-Make Use or Possess Exchequer Bill Paper, Public Seals, Etc.
- Forgery o Possession of Forged Document
- Possession of Credit Card Data o Forge or Falsify Credit Card
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Obstruction
- Obtain or Possess Identity Information
- Personation
- 2 Counts of Breach of Recognizance
- Possession of Identity Documents
The Ponoka RCMP continues to investigate this matter including identifying the two remaining suspects. Anyone with information to assist with the investigation, please contact the Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or your local police detachment.
If you see something suspicious, report it to your local police. If you see a crime in progress, call 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.p3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.