Three women were arrested for organized fraud after the victim’s bank sent an alert that a stolen credit card was being used at a nearby business.
On Monday, January 3, the Ocala Police Department received a report that a car had been burglarized. The back window of the victim’s car was broken and a $500 designer backpack containing several credit cards was stolen.
The stolen credit cards were used to purchase more than $8,600 in merchandise from multiple local stores.
An OPD detective reviewed video surveillance footage from the stores and spotted the individuals who made the fraudulent purchases, and their vehicle was also visible on the footage.
On Thursday, January 13, another OPD detective investigated a second vehicle burglary. The front window was broken and the victim’s purse containing several credit cards was stolen.
The victim’s bank sent a cellphone alert that one of the stolen credit cards was being used at a nearby store. Multiple OPD officers arrived at the store and located three women who were using the stolen credit card.
The officers arrested 32-year-old Bikita Annes Forestal, 37-year-old Jessica Spano, and 34-year-old Kiana Stanton, and they were each transported to Marion County Jail.
Forestal is currently being held on $10,000 bond and she is facing felony charges for organized fraud, burglary of a conveyance, and petit theft. A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, February 15 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.
Spano was released on $4,000 bond and she is facing two felony charges for fraud. A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
Stanton is currently being held on $14,000 bond and she is facing felony charges for organized fraud, burglary of a conveyance, petit theft, and possession of crystal methamphetamine. A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, February 15 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.