$55,000 cash in bags: Okaloosa sheriff says national retail fraud scheme reached Destin

DESTIN — Two people accused of being part of a nationwide scheme involving stolen goods and fraudulent returns at businesses have been arrested.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, 22-year-old Mercedes Enskat of New York and a man whose identity is not yet known were arrested Wednesday following a traffic stop in Destin. Investigators say they recovered thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, clothing and high-end electronics, as well as thousands of dollars in cash inside the vehicle.

Investigators say a man and a woman entered a Walmart in Destin to return an iPad and other items for cash. They attempted a second return but were refused after loss prevention staff identified them as part of a suspected fraud ring.

The OCSO says that deputies spotted the pair leaving in a Dodge Durango and made a traffic stop in the parking lot of a business on Emerald Coast Parkway.

During the stop, an OCSO corporal asked for consent to search the vehicle for stolen items and was given permission. The corporal found a bag containing more than $50,000 in cash and a fraudulent passport. Officials also said that another bag with $5,000 in cash and fraudulent identification for Enskat was recovered.

Enskat was arrested on a charge of possessing forged or stolen identification. The man was charged with using a false ID and giving false identification to a law enforcement officer. Both are being held at the Okaloosa County Jail.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: $55,000 cash in bags: Okaloosa sheriff says national retail fraud scheme reached Destin