200 Credit Cards Opened In Identity Theft Scheme: Sarasota Sheriff

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Five people who are members of the Nelson Group face charges related to an identity theft scheme, according to a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Sammy David Nelson, 39, and Brittany Alexandria Nelson, 34, both of Margate; Jerome Dale Senior II, 41, of Plantation; Linda Joyce Hugley, 65, of Lauderdale Lakes; and Karlyn Marketa Campbell, 39, of Pompano Beach were charged with organized scheme to defraud, racketeering, grand theft and criminal use of personal identification information.

Sammy and Brittany Nelson face additional charges for money laundering, SCSO said.

The agency worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on the investigation, which was opened in 2022 after SCSO received multiple identity theft reports from residents.

The victims reported that their personal identification had been compromised, and more than 200 credit card accounts were opened without their consent at various financial institutions, the sheriff’s office said.

On behalf of SCSO, FDLE Miami executed a search warrant of the Nelsons’ home and vehicles before arresting them on Oct. 24. Senior and Campbell were arrested in Plantation the following day for their participation. Hugley was arrested on Oct. 31.

The sheriff’s office has outstanding warrants for eight additional suspects connected to these crimes: Edward A. Bell, Jr., Joel Curtiss, Oshane Malcolm, Dujuan Neil, Sheldon Neil, Jada C. Turnbull, Livens Toussaint and Stanley Ulysse.