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Highlands Today

Wallet Theft Takes Long, Twisted Road

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: August 15, 2008

  Amaury Tomas-Contino

  Paul Veasey

SEBRING - Losing or forgetting a wallet can be a real heartache having to replace documents and calling creditors, but when it is found and no effort is made to return it, and its cash contents are taken and those credit cards are used, it becomes a crime.

Sebring police detectives had to wade through months of corporate red tape to complete an investigation into the theft of a 63-year-old Sebring man's wallet from a Sebring Wal-Mart checkout counter where he forgot it, and the subsequent use of his credit cards at several area locations.

But their investigation into the crime, which happened on May 17, ultimately led to the arrest of Amaury Tomas-Contino, 25, of 118 Sparrow Ave., Sebring, on Aug. 12.

Tomas-Contino was booked Tuesday on warrants on charges of grand theft and fraudulent use of a credit card - three times - to obtain goods or money and grand theft. Tomas-Contino was freed Tuesday on $2,000 bail.

In an ironic twist, the victim, Paul Elliott Veasey, 63, of 2102 Gardenview Drive, Sebring, was also arrested Tuesday on unrelated DUI charges.

Sheriff's Detention Maj. David Paeplow said Friday, it is unlikely the two ever crossed paths inside the jail because Veasey was booked in Tuesday morning and Tomas-Contino was booked in Tuesday evening and freed directly from the booking holding area.

Veasey was arrested on charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer without violence, refusal to sign a citation, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) third violation within 10 years and refusal to submit to a DUI test after license suspended or revoked.

Veasey was freed Wednesday on $6,250 bail.

He was arrested outside of a local bar at 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, after deputies say he was sitting behind the wheel of his vehicle with the keys in the ignition, allegedly impaired by alcohol, according to the arrest report.

According to the police report, Tomas-Contino was tracked down because of video surveillance tapes at Wal-Mart; Love Bugg's and traced credit card records.

The Wal-Mart tape showed Veasey paying for his items and forgetting his wallet on May 17. The next person in line, a male, reportedly saw the wallet grabbed it and placed it into his grocery cart. A female accompanying him then covered it up with a bag, the report stated.

But, the man reportedly paid for his items with a debit card, which was later traced back to him.

Veasey got a call from a credit card company about large purchases of fuel on his charge card at Love Bugg's Convenience Store and Gas Station, Gate gas and Shell gasoline stations, and realized he lost his wallet. He called police.

The wallet contained about $300 cash, his driver's license, his Social Security card, credit cards, a gift card, his veteran's identification, and a Sam's Club credit card.

On May 19, video surveillance tapes were viewed at Wal-Mart and also viewed from Love Bugg's on U.S. 27, reportedly showing a male later identified as Tomas-Contino, getting out of a Chevrolet Tahoe and buying gasoline with a credit card.

Wal-Mart's corporate office was contacted. Detectives were directed to the store's legal department, which required a faxed request for that debit card number, used by the unknown male suspect at 12:35 and 14 seconds, on May 17.

On June 2, Wal-Mart's legal department was still working on identifying the debit card number, but detectives were told it could still take up to two weeks.

On June 4, the debit card number used by the as yet unidentified male at Wal-Mart on May 17 was identified. It was issued by Bank of America, the report stated.

Bank of America told the police department it would have to subpoena the bank's records to get the name of the account holder. Detectives contacted the state attorney's office, which issued a subpoena.

On June 23, the state attorney's office received the requested information. Tomas-Contino's driver's license photo matched the description of the male in the store videos.

Tomas-Contino told the detectives that he didn't realize he would get into trouble for taking the wallet, the report stated, and began asking about paying the money back. He was told that was up to the state attorney's office, an affidavit would be submitted for review and a warrant could be issued for his arrest.

The arrest report stated that Tomas-Contino made four purchases with Veasey's credit card, including two at Love Bugg's for $85.26 and $83.05 and two at Shell for $75 and $23.69. Use at the Gate station was not confirmed. He reportedly admitted keeping approximately $300 in the wallet.

The wallet was recovered at Publix in Avon Park and returned to Veasey.

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