Social Media Posts Help Locate Man Wanted In 48 Cases Of Fraud

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – The U.S. Marshal Service and Miami-Dade Police have arrested a man linked to 48 cases of fraud in Pasco County.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says Daniel Santos, 22, of 38434 Lake Ave., Dade City, is suspected of stealing credit and debit cards out of Pasco County mailboxes since March 2015 as part of a multi-million-dollar fraud ring that’s been operating throughout the state.

Apprehending Santos has been a two-year mission for Pasco Detective Spencer Hubbell. A fraud in which Santos was a suspect was Hubbell’s first case after being assigned to the Pasco Economic Crimes Unit in 2016.

Several times Hubbell tried to make charges against Santos stick but Santos was always able to bond out of jail.

Last week, Hubbell got a break in the case. By locating videos and photos posted on social media sites, including photos of Santos displaying handfuls of cash, Hubbell and Detective Darren Hill were able to trace Santos to a condominium in Miami.

With the help of U.S. marshals and Miami-Dade Police, Santos was arrested April 19 and is being held in jail without bond.

In addition to the fraud charges, Santos has a history of battery, throwing a deadly missile, felony possession of a firearm, lewd and lascivious sexual battery on a victim under 16, assault on law enforcement, fleeing to elude and multiple drug arrests.

Images via Pasco Sheriff