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Suspicious vehicle call nets three fraud suspects for Jefferson County deputies

Deputies arrested three Southeast Texans that they say have been stealing checks, credit cards, cash and other valuables.
Yance Young

Jefferson County deputies have arrested three people on fraud charges after finding them in possession of stolen mail.

Ashley Loftin, 31, of Spurger, Wesley Martinez, 33, and Yance Young, 26, both of Beaumont, were arrested and charged with forgery and "fraudulent use or possession of identifying information" according to a release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

The second charge "prohibits a person from obtaining, possessing, transferring, or using an item of identifying information of another person without the other persons consent with the intent to harm or defraud another" the release said.

After receiving a call from a citizen deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle call on Patna Road in west Jefferson County at about 11 a.m. Thursday and found the three sitting in the car according to the release.

While speaking to the three deputies noticed a handgun and a large amount of mail addressed to various names on the floor of the car.

Deputies got the suspects out of the car and obtained permission to search it the release said.

After searching the car deputies found evidence suggesting that the mail and other items found in the car may have been recently stolen from discovered addresses in Silsbee, Lumberton and Beaumont.

The sheriff's office is in the process of contacting the owners of the mail as well attempting to identify the owners of the possibly stolen items found in the car.

Deputies say the trio was stealing checks, credit cards, cash and other valuables.

Deputies ask that anyone who can identify any of the items contact Captain Jeff Chadney at 409-835-8737.

SAFETY TIPS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

  • When ordering checks, have them sent to your financial institution instead of your home.
  • Check your credit report at least once a year, if not more often, as part of your normal financial management practices.
  • You can get a free report and FICO score at FreeCreditScore.com or at Credit Karma
  • Monitor your bank accounts daily.

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