Two Tishomingo County women are facing multiple felony charges after a check fraud investigation led detectives straight to their door.
An investigation into check fraud and identity theft led Tishomingo County Sheriff's Department investigators to search a residence in Tishomingo. While executing the search warrant on Feb. 8, authorities say they seized multiple checks, credit cards, bank information and mail that didn't belong to the homeowners. Narcotics officers also claim to have found a felony amount of methamphetamine.
That investigation led to the arrest of Chrystal McKinnon, 41, on a felony warrant. The continuing investigation led to the Feb. 28 arrest of Ashley Eubanks McKinnon, 38. They are married to each other, according to their Facebook pages.
Investigators say the camper the women were living inside had been stolen from Eupora about a year ago. The camper was seized and a hold was placed for Webster County Sheriff’s Department, which retrieved it Thursday and returned it to Eupora.
As reported last week by the Progress-Times, the 2015 Starcraft AR-ONE MAXX travel trailer was stolen from U.S. 82 in Sapa near the Eupora County Club.
Chrystal McKinnon was charged with breaking and entering of a dwelling, two counts of identity theft, two counts of forgery, felony possession of a controlled substance and felony possession of stolen property. During her initial appearance, a Tishomingo County Justice Court judge set her bond at $80,000.
Ashley McKinnon was charged with breaking and entering of a dwelling, three counts of forgery, three counts of identity theft and possession of stolen property. Her bond was also set at $80,000.
Webster County Sheriff David Gore said local charges are pending against the two in connection with the camper theft once they make bond in Tishomingo County.
Both women remained incarcerated in the Tishomingo County Jail as of March 7.
The investigation is still ongoing. Both women could face additional state and federal charges.
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Mathiston stop
leads to charges
In an unrelated case, the Mathiston Police Department reports that on March 10, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. 82 for a traffic violation.
A probable cause search led to charges of possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a controlled substance being filed against the driver. The subject was also charged with false identification. The 29-year-old male was released from the Webster County Jail that day in lieu of a $5,500 bond.
