Identity Theft Arrests
Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to announce the recent arrests of Jamelle J. Mcbride (age 32) and Brenden Butler (age 22) as a result of a two-year investigation involving identity theft, fraud, and forgery related crimes.
On 06/11/2020, a search warrant was executed on a residence located on the 16000 block of Josef Drive in the Village of Homer Glen. Detectives from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement officials from the United States Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois Department of Revenue, Lake Forest Police Department, and the Chicago Police Department executed the search warrant in the early morning hours.
This two-year investigation involved numerous counts of illegal and unauthorized use of victims’ financial and identification information to make online purchases of high-value items. These items include lawn mowers, tractors, appliances and leather goods. The items purchased are then received from the store using fraudulent means, purported to be that of the credit card holder. The fraudulently purchased items are either converted for personal use or sold using online forums such as Letgo and OfferUp, for an estimated loss to victims in excess of $1 million dollars in the past 24 months.
Seized at the residence were devices used to manufacture fraudulent identification cards and fraudulent credit cards. These seized devices include a card embossing machine, a device used to encode / re-encode the magnetic stripe of credit cards, printers used to manufacture fraudulent identifications, and fraudulent credit cards.
Numerous fraudulent documents purported to be driver’s licenses, fraudulent credit cards, and re-encoded credit cards were located inside of the residence. Also seized were two (2) loaded firearms, fraudulently purchased appliances, multiple vehicles, computers, cellular phones, leather goods, a large amount of United States currency, and other miscellaneous suspect stolen property.
The investigation is on-going, and it is expected that both Mcbride and Butler will be charged with additional crimes. In addition, it is also expected that charges against additional co-conspirators in this operation will be forthcoming as well.
This investigation is the largest of its kind ever conducted in Will County. The men and women that investigated this case should be commended for their determination, attention to detail, and the work ethic needed to investigate such large scale investigation. A special thanks goes out to Will County State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow and his staff for all of their hard work in assisting all involved agencies in obtaining subpoenas, search warrants, and charges in this case.
Additional information will be provided in regards to this investigation, when appropriate.