The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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August 29, 2008

Stolen debit cards may lead to a life in prison

By Cass Rains, Staff Writer

An Enid man was arraigned Friday on two felony charges of possessing a stolen debit card.

Jeffery Lynn Bennett Jr., 28, faces four years to life in prison for each charge because of two prior felony drug convictions in Tillman County.

Bennett was arrested by Enid police Aug. 22 after a surveillance photograph of him using one of the cards was published in the News & Eagle. Police said Bennett had left Enid and returned but had shaved his head and mustache in an attempt to alter his appearance.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, a woman reported to police Aug. 2 her wallet was taken from a car while in was parked at Scooter’s. The woman said she checked her accounts and found someone had used her debit cards.

One of the cards had been used for a purchase of $31.75, and several ATM withdrawals had been made with another card, totaling $506.75.

Police obtained video surveillance from one of the stores where one of the cards was used. A description of the man who was shown using the cards in the video was released to the media and published Aug. 9. Police and Garfield County CrimeStoppers received three anonymous tips identifying the man in the photo as Bennett, according to court documents. Once caller gave police Bennett’s address and where he worked.

Police went to the given address Aug. 11 to speak with Bennett; however, his stepbrother told police he had left town. When police asked where he went, Bennett’s stepbrother said he saw his picture in the paper and left town, according to the affidavit.

On Aug. 22, detectives interviewed Bennett. He admitted he was in possession of two stolen debit cards, according to the affidavit. He said he’d received the two cards from a friend but knew they were not his.

Bennett told police he used one of the cards to fuel a friend’s vehicle and used the PIN number of the back of one of the cards to withdraw $500 from an ATM, according to the affidavit.

Bennett is being held in lieu of $3,000 bond and was ordered to return to court Sept. 29 for a bond appearance.

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