Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two New York residents Wednesday afternoon in connection with a suspected nationwide scheme involving stolen and fraudulent returns at businesses.
- The arrests occurred following a traffic stop in Destin around 2:30 p.m. Deputies recovered thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, clothing, and high-end electronics, as well as tens of thousands of dollars in cash from the suspects’ vehicle.
The incident began when the pair entered the Walmart in Destin and reportedly returned an iPad and other items for cash. A second return attempt was refused after loss prevention staff identified them as being part of a suspected fraud ring.
Deputies spotted the suspects leaving in a 2016 Dodge Durango and conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of a business at 15015 Emerald Coast Parkway. An OCSO Corporal asked for and received consent to search the vehicle for stolen items.
During the search, deputies discovered a bag containing more than $50,000 in cash and a fraudulent passport for the male suspect. Another bag held nearly $5,000 in cash. Fraudulent identification for the female suspect was also found, along with the previously mentioned items.
Mercedes Enskat, 22, of New York, is currently charged with possession of a forged or stolen identification. The 27-year-old male suspect, identified only as “John Doe” and also from New York, is charged with using a false ID and giving false identification to a law enforcement officer.
Both suspects are being held at the Okaloosa County Jail and remain on hold for immigration. The investigation is ongoing.
