On April 17th, 2022, Dunwoody police officers responded to a call about a couple involved in a fraudulent scheme. The duo had cunningly used someone else's reward account information to book and stay at the Marriott Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon arriving, officers learned that the hotel had received a call from a puzzled individual in California, who denied making any reservations in Atlanta. [Applause] Oh yeah. Is that him out there? We have security coming in. That's him out there. Is that him? They're in here. Oh, they're in here. Let security talk. Let's Okay. All right. whatever going on. I'mma tell like I told y. Okay. So, boom. 809. We get a call from California saying that uh his car wasn't authorized to for Mhm. Um these are the folks that's occupied in the room. Okay. Um he wanted to know in California what's going on. So, this is what we're doing right now. So, he can have clarification. He said he don't know neither one of them the girl either. He don't know them. So, We have to. So we I'mma tell her like I told y'all I'mma tell him. I'mma tell them. Like I said I need What car did you use? What car? Yeah. I as my girlfriend. Let me tell what happened. So me and my girlfriend. Initially considering a credit card mix up, officers were stunned to discover that the couple had checked in using their debit card, but the reservation was made under someone else's identity. Magnetiz going on. So I'm thinking, you know, you hold close to your phone, it's not going to work. So I'm like, okay, maybe they need to put new magnet on. So we come back down here, tell about the mag information. That's that's it. Okay. I wasn't aware of any foster. So you so 1043. So real quick, can you get your girlfriend and tell her to bring the card that was that's in question? So, what card's causing all these problems? Um, my debit card, I'm assuming. Your debit card? Yes. Okay. And do you mind if I get your ID? Yeah. Okay. So, what she told me, she said this card wasn't the one that's on file. Which card is the one on file? That's That's what I'm saying. So, my my person my homeboy that I said used to get the room. I guess she used the card whichever whatever information that he That's what I'm saying. Stand by with them. What card's on file? What card was used? Okay, they they let me I'll tell you. I I called Mr. They're over there. Mr. card was not used. They used a different Visa card on there. They gave it to the clerk. And that should have alert. That's a master card. So, yeah, master card. Okay. ending in 4155. Okay. So, this is the card that they used. They used their own card, but the reservation and Mr. Cruz's information was used. So, that's a problem. Okay. So, they used this card when they got here, but the booking for it was under somebody else's name. Buddy, you want to come on? Yeah, I would I would love to cuz he said this. All right. This is Mr. That is his I called him and this is his number. I called him. I asked him. I verified this is his credit card ending. I asked him that. He said he told me they did not get that authorized. They used their own to authorize to get in. All right. The clerk should have been alert. Whoever checked them in, but she wasn't. And I cannot And this is Mr. Kun's telephone number I've been calling if the 83 is for then yes 231 star confirmation right that's so the room was booked somebody booked it with a different card right no they booked it with Mr. cruise information, everything. Okay. Yes. So, whoever got I don't know how they got here. Okay. Yeah. And then when they got here, would you mind running that? The male suspect, claiming innocence, insisted that a friend named Ricko had booked the room, but he couldn't provide Ricko's last name. So, you you said your friend booked the room? Yeah. Who's your friend? Rena. Somebody named Rico. Rico, is Rico his actual name or is that like what you know him? That's what I know about. Okay. So, Okay. So, you know him. You know him as Rico? Yeah. All right. You're going to need his actual name. 08 02 469 if you want to can you go out to my truck and under over my uh my visor um you'll see my notepad. Can you grab it for me? And so this doesn't have his name on there at all. Okay. All right. Hang tight for me real quick. A call to the victim confirmed that he had no connection to the suspects and officers gathered information for the ongoing investigation. This is his information. Hey, this is Officer Hansen with the Dome Police Department. Hey, are you Mr. Croom? Okay, so what is uh what's your member name? Okay, so do you know a Vashan? Okay. Do you know anybody by the name of Rico? No. Okay. All right, sir. Uh, real quick, um, do you have your driver's license on you? Okay. All good. Um, could I get your What state is your driver's license out of? California. Okay. Okay. Mr. Kroom, what is your date of birth? Okay. And what's a good phone number for you? Okay. All right, Mr. Croom. Thank you. Um, if I need anything, I will call you from a phone that is a 470 number. So, if you see that, um, that's going to be me. Okay. All right. I will leave a message for you. Okay. I will leave a message for you as well. All right. Thank you, sir. Yeah, if you could. Yeah, if you could. Can you Where can you? No, just his uh Where's the actual Where does it show the credit card number? Oh. Oh, here. Oh, no. That's If you could just confirm um at least the last four of the uh of the credit card that's on file. Okay, that's his profile they use. Okay, thank you, sir. Um, like I said, if I if I need anything else from you, uh, I will give you a call with a 470 number. Take care. Bye. Okay. So, Mr. Croom, whose information was used to book the room, um, does not know him, her, or Rico, the friend that he claims um set up the room. Uh he gave me the member ID number along with the last four of the credit card on file plus the expiration date. Um and he has the physical card. They have the card. It's her card. Um it's right there. 4155. It's the female's card. Yeah. But how How is that card being used to steal a person's card? Oh, it's not. So, basically, the room was booked under his information. Mhm. Um, and it wasn't authorized and then they used their card. Did they use it financial information to book the room? Um, what they did, whoever made the reservation use Mr. K's profile. His profile brings up everything about him. Mhm. That's what they did. and just booked it to Marriott. Just enter and book his profile by using this number. This number holds all his profile. Yeah. And when the male uh checked in, what name? Whoever he g the lady's name [Music] and whomever at the desk checked that did that. So, they're also at fault. Okay. So, did they use any did they try to check in under or Oh, I don't know. Okay. Yeah, that I don't How long ago did they check in? Today at 6:00. 6:00. Okay. Mhm. And so, when did the card actually get declined? Was the card attempted to be used? Mr. Kun's card? Yes. No, they couldn't have. U Okay. So, that's what I'm trying to get. So basically they just booked a room under his member number, right? And the thing is the clerk should never have let some especially that is under this rate this this uh market code because that means that person is using points to to check in. Mr. Kun's points is being used to check this person in. It's not by by they're not paying. They're using points. So, they're using his reward points to pay for the That's what's going on. That's what's going on. Whoever set it up knows his personal information and did it that way. Okay. Because there's a certificate number. Wait, wait, let me go pull it up. There's a certificate number that came that would one program would have given them and that's the certificate number. Did they say who made the reservation? The guy says it's some dude named Rico, but he only knows him by Rico and he only showed me an Instagram account. So this Rico is the one who made the reservation. According to him, yes, according to there's no way to verify that. That does not come up in our system. No, fraud shoddy. Yeah. Yeah. It's It's not It doesn't necessarily fit this um just because But yes, his account was used, but his financials weren't. His financials were not touched as far as Marriott. He wouldn't have any understanding of whatever facilitation to begin with. But first of all, all he's asking is that he gets back his points, which I could arrange. I could arrange that. Yeah, that's on that's on that's on your Yes, I'll arrange and get that back. That's no problem. But does that 83 confirm you? Okay. So, yeah, they cannot stand. Yeah, that's fine. Okay. The officer asked the male suspect how he communicated with his friend Ro and the suspect showed him messages on his cell phone. M sir, so do you have any contact between you and this Rico? Yeah, you do. You mind showing me that? Is it on Instagram as well? No, he gave me his number. He gave you his number? Yeah. Okay. So, what brought you to this one? He just He tell me He tell me to pick one. Yeah. Like, you know what I'm saying? He he'll give me a choice. He'll tell me which one. He like whichever one you want. How did you get his phone number? Somebody that I knew cuz you know my Instagram. He said he never gave me a contact. Okay. So where where's when did he start setting up this reservation? I need you to get to that and just let me read it all. That's right. I ask him I just sit down for the home and I get the room whatever the case may be. My question is, did I get him? Is he using my information to book the rooms? I can't say cuz that's that's that's what he that's what he said though. So it's the same same thing with this one, my brother. It's the same thing with this one. What What is What is this? That's what he This these are the rooms that he'll give me. We came down here for an emergency and I I need a room. So he sent you a picture of what is what is this? These are the screenshots of this. Like like I told you, he told me there's two names to get in. When we came here today, it was two names. He put in hers and then there was another person there. That's that was another one. This was another one. Yes. And when he's doing see he's doing this and then we're staying in the hotel. So I'm thinking we're okay. I'm not knowing nothing that was going on until just now. I'm following you. I'm asking. So he tell me to get the room. He gave me the room. Okay, cool. Contact him. What's up? Hello. Boom. He gives me the room. This is this is your tail. Okay. So, how did you meet this guy? How did you how did you first find out about this guy? Through mutual friends. Through mutual friends. Through mutual friends. And they use the same thing. Yeah. Somebody most people have used this before. Okay. So, why are you sending him money? because he has me pay him so he can give me the room for like I told him I I said can I get a room for a discounted person somewhere I'm low on money I just need somewhere to stay and my girlfriends need somewhere to stay he said okay I got you have pay a certain amount he'll give me a room just like Okay. Okay, hang on. So, this is their messages back and forth. Uh, I think I passed it. So, this guy apparently has numerous accounts of other people's. Mhm. That's the first one. I've only seen two. I've seen that one and the one used for this. Did you get this guy's phone number? No, not yet. This sounds like this guy's going to be a vendor. Yeah. No, he is. And then and then my guess is that he's just scamming. Yeah. So, this is the card to let them get their stuff. Um, they don't want them here anymore. I got to go somewhere else. Okay. Then, um, come back once, sir. Get their stuff. Yep. Let me call Sergeant, give him an update. So, I'm going to give you that back along with your license. I'll hand you that back. So, just bear with us a little bit longer. All right. We're just trying to figure out what the heck's going on. All right. Yes. Okay. Can somebody come upstairs with this cop? Yeah. Um, we're going to try to get you get your stuff and they don't want you here anymore. No, no, I'm just saying. I'm saying when y'all got this with us, I go over here so we can get her patty dressed up. Are you on the phone with Sarge? Right. Yes. When you get the chance, do you want to chat with me real quick? Thank you. Merry Christmas. Thanks, Ar. So, um he got this Rico guys phone number from I guess from him um over Instagram. He came in contact with him through mutual friends who it sounds like he's they've all used this guy's service which um you pay him money and he gets you rooms at discounted rates. Um, in the text there are two pictures where he has sent a screenshot of like somebody's name, address, uh, one of them didn't have a card on file. Um, it was uh, somebody in South Carolina. I forget her name. Um, and then the second one was the one that was used for this room with the card that was on file on the computer. Um, and so it sounds like or what it looks like is this Rico dude is going to be the offender. Um, and it's looking like he's just scamming people almost. Um, where people pay him and then he uses other people's information to book these rooms for people and then lo and behold, this happens. But I had to call. I wasn't work today. I had to call. Okay. So, I need to find out if Okay. my check. I wanted to get to the drop. I wanted to get to the drop, but I got to wait. Um, no, he just wants his points back. I think it's they um I don't really know to be honest. The male suspect explained that Ricko had booked a hotel room under his girlfriend's name and another person's name, and they checked in using his girlfriend's name. He mentioned that they had stayed in another hotel just yesterday without any issues. As the officers delved deeper, discrepancies emerged in the suspect's story. The male suspect maintained his innocence, presenting text messages supposedly from Ricko. Do you mind if I see those those text messages one last time? So, this was I'm I take it this is the last one that he sent you. Yeah. Okay. And that's this. Yeah, that's this one. When did he send that? Okay. 5:42. Mhm. Okay. When did y'all check in today? Oh, wow. Was it like I think right after that at like 6:00 actually just pulled that. Yeah, it's 61. Okay. Okay. And how did how did y'all check in? Like did he say he put it under her name? So he put it under her name. Okay. So he got me and I told him I told him. Did he give you all like a confirmation number or like It's right It's right there. It's right here. Oh, wait. Hold on. Wait. Yeah, you'll see it right there like when you send me. So, is that what is that what you guys use to actually like look up the reservation? No, we use our name. So, you basically like look it up by your name? Yeah, we put our So, he put it under her name. Yeah. Okay. Well, I can tell you that's not what happened cuz they have it under No, that is though. No, no, what I'm saying is he he that's what he tell me this right here. That's what he tell. He was like cuz he has reward system. So, I'm like, "Okay, cool." You're like, "So, did you check in using this guy's name?" No, cuz he didn't. He told me not to. Okay. So, he's like, "That's from the rewards. Just use it under her name and you'll be you'll be good." Hold on. I'm So, okay. So, the room was booked under her name. Both. Both of his name and her name. Yes, that's what you said. Okay. Okay. So, and then y'all look it up with under her name. Absolutely. Okay. Just trying to clear that up. 12 coming in at four times. support team play. Yeah, thank you. Le, but it's out of Florida, Swani County. So, I'm about to leave and see him now. That's I just paid off. I'm going to contact him. I don't I don't know why you want to s let you know that you you got a warrant. Yeah, I I don't know. I ain't know who you're talking about. No warrant. Yeah, I know. I had Sony County, Florida probation, but that's been handled. So, I'm not getting like a hit and run. Is that what it sounds like? Yeah, that's what that's what it was then. Okay. Then they put me on probation when I came back. My guess is that you probably missed some of your probation requirements, but I paid off. I don't She didn't turn on. Sometimes you got to go in. No, no, it No, cuz when I went No, that's the thing. I went to court and the fact that Did they put you on probation? Yeah, I went to court. Okay. Yeah. Sometimes when they put you on probation, you still have to like go for like No, that's that's what I'm saying. She didn't know. She gave me a whole agreement because of the fact that I was in Georgia and she was in Florida and she said I I pay like 212 a month for like for like 3 months to go up to whatever total was and I I haven't actually looked at the actual I know exactly I know exactly what he just said that. Okay. But I know you said something about showing up but she told me I didn't have to cuz it was a Georgia and Florida. Um but that's still my guess is that something something in that probation got hung up. I wasn't I wasn't sure about no one. I ain't get no med. [Music] Okay. [Applause] [Music] So, y'all checked in under her name. Yeah. Okay. [Music] And see my reasoning for not knowing that this was anything like that cuz this is not the first room. So So you've used him multiple times? Yeah. Before that's what I'm saying. I'm not know it's a problem cuz he said he had a reward system. It's I'm standing in the phone just died. Oh yeah. So I'm staying in the room. So I'm like how many times have you used him? This is my second time. Second time. What was the first one? When was yesterday? You stay right here. I went to I went to another one in Buckhead. I told my name the Buckhead one. Yeah. Yeah, I need I need emergency for me and my girlfriend in the emergency room cuz room blank tight with this officer right here. Um, actually, if you could, I'm just going to have a chat with him. However, the investigation revealed that the reservation was initially under the victim's name with the girlfriend's name added just moments before check-in. So, here's a corner. So, I know you weren't the person working the desk when they checked in. No. Yeah. Do you know anything about how they checked in? And guess what? I just printed up all the stuff for my the man. Does the room Does the room reservation have her name on it? [Music] Someone added that thing. So, it was added after the fact was standing in front of When was the Can you show me that on the computer? Okay. All right. I just printed up. This is the clerk that did it. Okay. You heard? I just printed it up for the boss. Uh, and so when when does it show that the reservation was first made? Oh, we would have to go into another system to find out. Okay. Where it is, who made it. Okay. Yeah. and and and and my boss brand beyond cuz my number wasn't working to get into Marsh the reservation system because they they were supposed to change it and he hasn't done it. So So I can't Is there any further updates? I thought that he was coming I thought he was coming back but he hasn't gotten here yet. Okay. Uh, so this clerk, let's see, see, she she made the change here. So at 1804 at 6:00. Yes. It was made at 5:00. So it was made at Yes. 5:42 today. So yeah, that that's when the reservation was made. 5:42 and this her name right here. Yes. That is when they added their name, right? And that was when they checked it all. Right. Okay. So, the reservation is made at I mean an hour before, not even 20 minutes. I mean, really. Okay. So, here's the thing. Okay. Um, after talking to SGE, Mhm. Um, it sounds like it is they're both going to go for DC's games. DC is in the city. Yeah. Um, I didn't know there was that. I'm going to I'm going to call him one more time and um and update the information. Just keep an eye on are they still sitting there? I didn't know. Okay. So, once again, just so I can 100% clarification, reservations made at 5:42 and they edited it at 6:04. Right. Let me go to the reservation screen. Okay. So, the clerk 87 605 is when they checked in. Yes. Physically like physically in front of the person and she added this person's name. They said something. So, 6 6:04 is when the name was added and then a minute later is when it was fully checked in. Okay. Mhm. Okay. And I came on and and you don't want them here anymore, right? No. Okay. No. Not under somebody's name. more than likely help you with that. Good. Great. So, let me give my sergeant one last pull. Yes. Okay. With the sergeant's input, a decision was made to arrest the couple. good about the check-in cuz it was a different clerk that did it. Um, reservation was made at 17:42 today. It was edited at 6:04 and they were checked in at 6:05. Um, and they're telling me that um, basically they're trying to blow some smoke up up my rear because they're saying that they looked it up under her name, but I'm seeing on on the screen that her name was added to it a minute before they checked in, like 22 minutes after the reservation was made. Um, uh, the them uh, him and her, [Music] not the clerks. No. Yeah. the guests who were saying that they looked up the room under her name and not a confirmation number or anything like that. Even though they have a screenshot of this hotel with a confirmation number uh at 43, a minute after the reservation was made under [Music] and then I think a minute later after that was the screenshot of so Um, I'm thinking I got enough for DC schemes at this point. So, both go. [Music] [Applause] The male suspect kept insisting on his innocence and kept claiming he hadn't done anything wrong. He also tried to convince the officer that his girlfriend was unaware of the situation, asking not to arrest her. Okay. So, just talking to the front desk clerk, you said you looked it up under her name. Okay. So, what I'm seeing up there is that the reservation was made at 5:42 today. That sound about right? And then it was changed a minute before y'all checked in by the front desk clerk like to add her name onto it. No, no, she looked it up by her name. I don't know about no change. Well, what I'm what I'm telling you is what the front desk clerk told me. Oh, no. I understand. Then whoever the employee was that she was up here, he called her. I don't know what it was, but we tell her name. He said, "Okay, she like Batis." And she like, "Oh, Kelly." She like, "Yes, cool." That's all it was. Okay. So, here's the problem that I'm having is one, this dude is sending people's personal information. Like, does that not seem I understand a little weird? I understand that. He He's telling me he has reward points for the hotel. That's all I know. Under different names. That's my That's all I know. Like, one's a female. I don't know what I don't know. Like, does it not seem a little strange? I mean, Hey D, I don't know what I don't know what he's going to say. I don't know. He said we live for cheap. I need somewhere to stay. It's an emergency. I And I get that about that and it seems sketchy. I'm not going to sit in the nation. But I stay with my girlfriend. Like I wasn't I wasn't. So where do you stay at now? I stand in C. We came down. I didn't have my key to my house. My parents my phone. Okay. I need a Okay. That's all I've ever seen. Okay, so here's the deal. Couple things. One, hotel doesn't want you here. Absolutely. Two, I got reason to think that y'all knew that this whole thing was a load of crap. Because you getting you getting people you getting random people's personal information like cards, addresses, everything. I'm not I I don't know about the car. He just gave me a name. the name and the little you can look down and you can see the card. Man, I didn't I didn't go to that. I didn't I confirmation number and the name. That's all. I don't know about nothing. I didn't see I didn't click on the car. I didn't see no car. And even if there was a car, I'm thinking it's his or whatever the case may be. Okay. Not knowing about none of that. And if I did, I would not have booked a room. All right. So, here's the deal. You mind staying up for me? Yes. Okay. So right now you're being placed under arrest. Pretty similarly conduct. What did I do? Fraudulently booking a room. I've not known about no room. You use a third party to book a room using I'm not other people's information. I understand that. But I'm not notified. I told you who did it. Like I don't I don't understand. You didn't tell me who did it. You told you showed me an Instagram page of who did it. I saw you the messages. I'm I it's still you are in a spot to fraudulently take valuables i.e. the hotel room. Okay. Okay. I understand. Can I ask one thing? Yeah. Just just she has she did not know. She's following me. I'm getting the room. That's all. We need somebody. She didn't know. I swear to God, my father and my mother, she did not know. She didn't know. Look at her. Look at her. I'm not crying. She My girl had nothing to do. Is this you telling me that? No, I'm not telling you anything. Okay. She didn't know. I told her I said he going to use your name cuz I couldn't find my ID at the time. She said, "Okay, I'm not thinking nothing of it. We're in the middle of moving. I couldn't find my ID. We get her to the room. I find my ID. Okay, cool. That's why I'm able to give it to y'all. She has nothing to do with this. Just let her go home. That's all I'm asking y'all. We can do it. She has nothing to do with this. But the problem I'm having is under her name." Yeah. Is it was changed to add her name onto it. the change part and that y'all checked in under her name. That's the problem that I'm having. Well, can we call the other employee? It wasn't supposed to be nothing was supposed to be changed. We She said, "What's the It was It was edited at a minute before y'all checked in." And I'm And I'm telling you guys that I have no recollection of that, bro. And I told Maybe he maybe he changed it. That's what I'm saying. I'm not sure about that. I just said it needed to be on here cuz I couldn't find myself. It was changed by the front desk. That's even worse. So, we need to call the employee cuz I don't know her. I don't know the employee. All right. Well, he's going to figure it out, man. I'm going to go ahead and All right, man. Turn around. Don't lock these so they don't clamp down on your wrist. Okay. Get your purse. I can get your purse for you. Okay. Okay. Walk with me. [Music] Do you have any pockets? There's no phone. Just your phone. Okay. All right. I'm going to use the back of my hand. Just make sure that there's nothing else in your pockets. Okay. All right. Do you mind turning? Okay. So, go ahead and step in for me. There's no road comfort. understands. Despite pleas of innocence and attempts to shift blame, both were apprehended for disorderly conduct and transported to DAB County Jail. So, I'll kind of explain this again once we get down there. So, the reason that you guys are both under arrest is because you guys were in a place in order to fraudulently obtain a valuable good. Okay. In this case, the hotel room. Now, the reason that both of you are under arrest is because the reservation was made. It was changed to add her name and the contact was made through you. Absolutely. Um, it's just going to be a city code section. Okay. You guys are going to have bond set immediately. Um, it's either going to be 350 or 250. No problem. I'm sorry. So, and once again, I'll explain this when we get down there. I'm not trying to leave you all in the dark. I realize that this was not the outcome I wanted. No. Okay. Um, but I'm not trying to leave y'all in the dark. Um, ma'am, I they should be able to take your purse. If not, I will let you know and it'll be in the Doody Police Department property room. Okay. You just got to come and then let them know that your name uh and they'll be able to get your stuff back to you. Okay. Your firearm is going to be in the Del Police Department property room. Okay. So, you will have to go get it. Um and I believe you got about 3 months. Okay. We'll get that ASAP. I'm sorry. I'm going to go get that ASAP. No problem. Both of those. It's It's going to be there. Just let them know your name and they should be able to get it to you. Okay. You may have to call and make an appointment. So, I'd call ahead of time. Okay. Um, call the police department and then go to property. I forget what number it is. They just recently changed everything over. Okay. Um, but we could probably make an appointment for both of y'all. If they don't take our purse, but they should cuz it does it seems like it fits in that blue bag. Um, okay. Do you guys have any questions for me as to why? Um, uh, no. Everything is still I I get what happened. I've heard about it before. Um, my question is the stuff that's in there, are they going to stay in it until we come back and get? Are they going to just throw it out? I don't want like Can you go talk with them about their stuff in the room? At least at least Can you just tell them just at least leave it in there and let's pick it up? Like No, no, wait. I can like somebody just put it in my trunk or my car. My car is parked. At least at least let us do that. We can we can we can trust Let everything. You can try chat with them about seeing if they can hold it in their in their um in their in their business. I have a computer. I have school stuff. You got computer? I have school. You guys can you guys can just uh what's it called? Help us up there. Just come follow us up there. Pack I I can't let you out of the handcuffs. Well, I can't just give you my card key or something because I have to have school. Where are your car keys? Are they in my pocket? It's in your pocket. Dang. He didn't pat you down at all. No, he did. He did. He did. He He really did die. This is not funny. You laughing. I apologize. No. So, I'm going to try to work with you to get your stuff in the best spot as possible, okay? Cuz like I said, this is not the outcome I wanted. Okay. All right. Yes, sir. So, I will catch you guys up when the other officer comes out. Um, I'm going to try to get this process through as quick as you can so that y'all can spend the least amount of time as possible. Okay. Okay. But, so, let me get working on that and then I will let you know uh what he says. is I'll probably slide open that middle door. Okay, no problem. I'm about to tell you why, bro.