Warsaw Police identify and charge three in multi-state lottery and gift card fraud scheme
WARSAW, NC (WWAY) — The Warsaw Police Department has identified three people believed to be responsible for a widespread fraud scheme targeting retail stores across Eastern North Carolina and multiple states nationwide.
The investigation was in cooperation with the Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Beulaville Police Department, Clinton Police Department, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE), and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
According to the police, over the past several months, investigators have uncovered a series of thefts involving prepaid Visa gift cards and lottery tickets, in which suspects used deceptive payment tactics to obtain thousands of dollars in merchandise and winnings fraudulently. At local businesses, the suspects presented non-functioning Cash App or YouTube gift cards and inadvertently activated the cards.
Once activated, the suspects grabbed the items and left—typically escaping in a white Volkswagen Tiguan SUV with a Florida registration.
All suspects are from Flint, Michigan.
Darious Delshawn Welch, 20 is charged with:
- 9 counts of Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretense
- 1 count of Felony in Possession of Stolen Goods
- 8 counts of Felony Conspiracy
- 4 counts of Felony Organized Retail Theft
- 2 counts of Felony Larceny
- 6 counts of Misdemeanor Larceny
- 1 count of Misdemeanor Conspiracy
Welch is currently being held in the Duplin County Jail under a $180,000 secured bond.
Keaysha Warren, 22, has outstanding warrants for her arrest but her current location is under investigation.
Jalen Jamal Coleman, 19, is currently being held in Michigan, where he faces charges related to similar criminal activity. The Warsaw Police Department has issued outstanding warrants for his extradition to North Carolina.
