FROM STAFF REPORTS

A 35-year-old suspect has been charged with ringing up fraudulent charges on an Iredell County resident’s credit card at a Myrtle Beach, S.C., resort following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Rockingham, N.C., resident Leon Junior Johnson in a news release Friday afternoon.

The ICSO began investigating on April 7 after receiving a report regarding an ongoing identity theft, Campbell said.

The victim reported charges had been made to his financial card which were fraudulent and the report was assigned to Detective Craig Scannella with the Economic Crimes Division of the ICSO Special Victims Unit.

When Detective Scannella made contact with the Sea Crest Resort in Myrtle Beach, staff members at the resort verified the victim’s financial card had been used at this location to rent a room, according to the news release. The staff also advised the suspects who had used the financial card were still at the resort.

ICSO Detective Daniel Icard immediately contacted the Myrtle Beach Police Department for assistance in this case.

Myrtle Beach Police officers located Johnson inside the room at the resort. After confirming Johnson’s identity, officers also discovered Johnson had outstanding felony child support arrest warrants in Chesterfield County, S.C. Myrtle Beach officers arrested Johnson on these charges.

Detective Scannella obtained an arrest warrant in Iredell County chargining Johnson with felony identity Theft.

Johnson was extradited to Iredell County on Thursday, April 22. He appeared before Magistrate Chambers, who issued a $5,000 dollar secured bond on this charge.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed, Campbell said.