Mississippi couple arrested for identity theft and forgery

Surveillance videos from two local stores led to the arrest of a Mississippi married couple June 27 by Slidell police on 74 charges that included theft, forgery, identity theft and monetary instrument abuse.

Anthony S. Smith, 24, and Amanda Smith, 21, both of 398 Bay St., Picayune, Miss. turned themselves into police last Friday after the victim of the crimes, who is a family member, identified the couple from a photo lineup.

Anthony Smith was charged with nine counts of being a principal to theft, nine counts of being a principal to identity theft, nine counts of being a principal to monetary instrument abuse, and nine counts of being a principal to forgery. Amanda Smith was charged with 11 counts of theft, nine counts of identity theft, nine counts of monetary instrument abuse, and nine counts of forgery.

According to Slidell police, the couple stole a checkbook from a family member on May 3, and proceeded to write checks in six different Slidell stores for a grand total of $1,300.

The victim, who the police would not name to protect her identity, reported the theft of the checks to the Picayune Police Department on May 3. Later that month, the victim was notified by the Wal-Mart store in Slidell that two of her stolen checks were cashed, one for $126.37 was cashed May 3, and another one for $245.02 on May 4. The victim notified Slidell police on May 20 and filed a report for forgery with them.

Slidell Detective Mario Arthur got a list of Slidell stores where all the stolen checks were cashed, which included Wal-Mart, Target, J. C. Penny, Shoe Carnival, GNC, Hibbett Sports and Aeropostale. Arthur went to Wal-Mart on Natchez Drive, and looked at video surveillance tapes. A security officer at Wal-Mart recognized Anthony Smith as an acquaintance he knew from Picayune, Miss.

Arthur then went to Hibbett Sports where one of the stolen checks had been cashed, and while watching video surveillance tapes, was told by the store manager that he recognized Anthony Smith on the tape. He told the detective that he had worked with Smith in Picayune.

Both videos showed the Smiths signing the stolen checks.

Detectives then located photos of the Smiths on the “My Space” Web site. Using the photos in a photo lineup, the victim identified the couple and told police that she was related to Anthony Smith.

The couple were called in to Slidell Police headquarters on July 27 and confronted with the evidence. According to police spokesman, Capt. Kevin Foltz, Amanda Smith admitted to the crimes, and the couple were arrested and charged.

Both were taken to the St. Tammany Parish Jail where they were released June 28 on $16,000 bond each, Foltz said.

The other checks cashed by the Smiths were for $137.34 at Target, $116.33 at J.C. Penny, $92.07 at Shoe Carnival, $48.93 at GNC, and $97.50 at Hibbett Sports. They also wrote two checks at Aeropostale, one for $209.81 on May 3 and another for $290.05 on May 4.