A Harvest man is behind bars after Limestone County Sheriff's investigators uncovered what they say was a large-scale credit card fraud and fuel theft operation.
Casey Dalton McDougal, 33, from Harvest, was arrested following an investigation that started in January with a single fraud complaint.
Limestone County Sheriff's investigators said someone reported their credit card information had been stolen and used to buy large amounts of fuel at service stations in the area. Detectives say they later found many more fraudulent transactions involving stolen credit card information used to purchase significant amounts of diesel fuel across multiple locations.
Using surveillance footage from the area, investigators identified McDougal as the suspect. They said he is believed to be affiliated with the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
Working with the Athens Police Department, Limestone County investigators developed probable cause to get a search warrant for a home in the 29000 block of Thunderpaw Drive. The Limestone County Criminal Investigation Division and the Limestone County SWAT Team executed the search warrant.
During the search, authorities recovered 113 cloned credit cards, equipment used to skim credit card data, equipment used to manufacture cloned cards and approximately 275 gallons of diesel fuel.
McDougal was taken into custody and charged with two counts of identity theft. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are expected.
"This case is a strong reminder of how quickly financial crimes can escalate," Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin said. "What began as a single report of fraudulent activity led to the discovery of a large-scale card skimming operation impacting multiple jurisdictions."
McLaughlin said he commends the diligence and professionalism of investigators and appreciates the partnership of the Athens Police Department in bringing McDougal to justice. He encouraged all citizens to regularly monitor their financial accounts and report any suspicious activity immediately.
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Source: Limestone County Sheriff's Office
