Lake Charles, LA –
On April 8 Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a hotel in Sulphur in reference to a guest possibly using stolen credit cards while booking reservations.
During the initial investigation detectives were advised by hotel staff that the suspect, Charles E. Ellis, Jr., 38, 5834 Eastern Drive, Lake Charles, provided nine different credit cards and attempted to book three separate reservations online. Only one of the credit cards worked and one of the reservations was confirmed, totaling over $1,100. Detectives were able to confirm with the credit card company that the account had been compromised and Ellis fraudulently charged the reservation on the card.
During further investigations detectives executed a search warrant in the room and located numerous cell phones and USB flash drives along with drug paraphernalia.
Ellis, who was located at the hotel, was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with 8 counts of identity theft; theft from $1,000 to $5,000; and identity theft $1,000 or more. Judge Tony Fazzio set his bond at $31,000.
The investigation is continuing and more arrests and charges are possible.
CPSO Sr. Cpl. Sonny Schiro is the arresting deputy on this case. CPSO Detective Kent Castille is the lead investigator on this case.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.