According to a Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office incident report, On September 17th, 2022, at 9:58 AM, Lt. Cantrell dispatched an address in reference to a financial transaction card fraud. Lt. Cantrell made contact with the complainant, who stated she had observed some fraudulent activity on her account. According to the report, “She stated that someone had used her debit card at two different Circle K gas stations. The first was at 11418 Highway 41, Ringgold, GA, on August 11th, 2022 ($200.14). The second was at 5337 Alabama Highway Ringgold, GA, on August 15th, 2022 ($111.33).” The complainant stated she still had her card, so she believes someone may have duplicated it somehow. According to a separate Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office incident report, On November 30th, 2022, Deputy Cheramie responded to an address in reference to financial card theft. According to the report, “The complainant stated that his Capitol One credit card was used in multiple transactions at the Food City Gas N Go #214, 150 Hwy 41, Ringgold, GA. The first being $124.50, the second for $124.55, and four other transactions for $1. When Deputy Cheramie arrived at the Food City, he spoke with the manager, who showed the security camera footage of the individuals involved and had copies of the receipts from multiple transactions used at that pump. Deputy Cheramie observed a 2019-2022 silver Chevrolet 1500 with three fuel cells in the bed of the truck pull up to the pump. The driver, a Hispanic male in his 30’s with a black beard and medium skin fade; wearing a red Addidas tracksuit red tennis shoes, was seen using multiple cards at the pump to fill the fuel cells with diesel fuel. The offender used five different credit cards during the transaction time. Account numbers, amounts, and transaction times are listed on the receipts and are attached to the report. Detective LeeAnn Moody with the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation. On December 1st, 2022, Detective Moody received surveillance video collected by Detective Gebelein with Fort Oglethorpe Police Department of the fraudulent transactions at Food City Gas N Go that occurred on November 30th, 2022. Detective Moody reviewed the footage and recognized the vehicle and offender as the same as her case. Detective Moody had Sergeant Busby post-still-shots from the footage on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page to help with identifying the offender. After posting the photos, several more victims came forward regarding fraudulent purchases. On December 2th, 2022, at East Ridge Police Department, Sergeant Kemsey located the suspect driving the truck seen on surveillance video and identified him as Raico Cabrera Hernandez, 34, of Chattanooga. Warrants were issued and on December 17th, 2022, Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Jail. Hernandez was eventually transported to the Catoosa County Jail, charged with felony theft by taking and felony financial transaction card fraud x11.
