The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Tampa women in connection with fraudulent purchases at local Home Depot stores.

 
 

SCSO

 

On Tuesday around 4:30 p.m., Tactical Unit deputies were alerted by loss prevention personnel to two women attempting to purchase merchandise including gift cards, at the Cattlemen Home Depot location, using a construction company’s business account. According to personnel, the duo used the same account earlier that day at another Home Depot to make a similar purchase of multiple gift cards. Deputies located both suspects in a rental van parked in front of the store, identifying the driver as Joterra Iles, DOB 12/20/98, and the passenger as Tamika Long, DOB 04/28/75. Upon search of the vehicle, deputies recovered more than 90 gift cards along with a fraudulent Illinois driver’s license in Long’s purse. Through investigation, deputies confirmed with the construction company they did not open an account nor give either woman permission to use their personal information. In total, the duo is suspected of charging $16,734 to the fraudulent account.

 

Iles is charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Property Under $20,000 and Driving While License Suspended. She was released on Wednesday on $1,720 bond. Long is charged with Fraudulently Obtaining Property Under $20,000 and Possession of Fraudulent Identification. She remains in custody today on $3,000 bond.