Okaloosa County deputies arrest suspects involved in large-scale fraud scheme

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested two New York residents believed to be a part of a nationwide scheme for stolen and fraudulent returns at businesses.

According to a news release, the suspect involved was 22-year-old Mercedes Enskat of New York.

On Wednesday, following a traffic stop in Destin around 2:30 p.m., investigators said they recovered thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, clothing, and high-end electronics. They also said they recovered tens of thousands of dollars inside the pair’s vehicle.

Authorities said a man and woman entered a Walmart in Destin to return an iPad and other items for cash. A second return was attempted but refused after loss prevention identified them as part of a suspected fraud ring, officials wrote.

Deputies spotted the two leaving in their Dodge Durango and made a traffic stop in the parking lot of a business at Emerald Coast Parkway.

An OCSO corporal asked for consent to search the vehicle for stolen items and was given permission. The officer found a bag with more than $50,000 in cash and a fraudulent passport. Officials said the other bag had nearly $5,000 in cash, fraudulent identification for the female, along with the items mentioned previously.

Enskat was charged with possession of a forged or stolen identification and ‘John Doe’ was charged with using a false ID and giving false identification to a law enforcement officer.

They are both being held at the Okaloosa County Jail.

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