Harvest man arrested in large-scale credit card fraud and fuel theft investigation

LIMESTONE CO. – The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Harvest man following an extensive investigation into a large-scale credit card fraud and fuel theft operation. Casey Dalton Mc-Dougal, 33, was charged with two counts of Identity Theft. This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are expected.

According to the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), the received a fraud complaint in Jan. from an individual whose credit card information had been stolen and used to purchase large quantities of fuel at area service stations.

As the investigation progressed, investigators uncovered numerous additional fraudulent transactions involving stolen credit card information used to purchase significant amounts of diesel fuel across multiple locations.

“Through the use of area CCTV footage, investigators identified the suspect, who is believed to be affiliated with the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang,” stated LCSO officials. Working in coordination with the Athens Police Department, Limestone County investigators developed probable cause to obtain a search warrant for a residence in the 29000 block of Thunderpaw Drive.

Investigators with the Limestone County Criminal Investigation Division, along with the Limestone County SWAT Team, executed the search warrant. During the search, authorities recovered 113 cloned credit cards, equipment used to skim credit card data, equipment used to manufacture cloned cards, and approximately 275 gallons of diesel fuel.

“This case is a strong reminder of how quickly financial crimes can escalate. What began as a single report of fraudulent activity led to the discovery of a large-scale card skimming operation impacting multiple jurisdictions,” said Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin. “I commend the diligence and professionalism of our investigators and appreciate the partnership of the Athens Police Department in bringing this individual to justice.”