Identity fraud charges result from alleged stolen phone, unauthorized CashApp transaction

There are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t leave your phone unattended around untrustworthy people. A Douglas woman found that out the hard way when someone she helped out allegedly stole $800 from her account through an unauthorized CashApp transaction. 

The incident report states that in the early morning hours of May 2, two individuals gave James Turner a ride. They went to the Circle K on the south end of town. The complainant fixed a drink at the soda fountain and set her phone down on the machine. She walked away and left her phone on the fountain. While the complainant was walking around the store, the report states that Turner walked by the soda fountain, picked up her phone, and went into the bathroom with it. Video footage showed Turner come out of the bathroom just a few minutes later, the incident report states.

While Turner had the complainant’s phone, he allegedly sent a woman $800 via the complainant’s CashApp. 

By the time Turner came out of the bathroom, the complainant had noticed that her phone was missing so she had her friend call it. The phone rang in Turner’s back pocket. He said that he found her phone in the bathroom and returned it to her. The complainant noticed the CashApp transaction and asked Turner about it. The report states that Turner just walked out of the store. 

Turner also had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested on that warrant as well as charges of theft by taking and identity fraud. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail but has since been released.