Germantown Man Charged $13K On Credit Cards Taken From Schools Employees: Police

ROCKVILLE, MD — Police have charged a Germantown man with multiple counts of credit card fraud for allegedly stealing wallets and purses from 11 employees at Montgomery County schools and child care centers. The thefts took place in May and June and bogus charges made by the suspect have totaled $13,000 so far, officials said.

On Tuesday, detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department said they have charged Nakym Sheffield, 39, of Circle Gate Drive in Germantown. Investigators received reports from 11 employees whose purses/wallets were stolen from a school classroom or an office. The victims' stolen credit cards were then used to purchase items at stores in the county including Target, Safeway, Best Buy, and Giant, police said.

On July 7, detectives released photographs of the suspect and asked for help in identifying him. A tip led to the identification of Sheffield as the suspect. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Sheffield and arrested him at his home on July 15.

The total amount of fraudulent charges placed on the women's credit cards exceeded $13,000 and is growing, since investigators haven't received final amounts for some of the fraudulent purchases.

At three of the schools the suspect was approached by personnel who asked why he was in the school. The man provided a brief response like he was with the cleaning staff or was a member of camp staff and then quickly left the area, police said.

The incidents include:

• May 9 – Twinbrook Elementary School, 5911 Ridgway Avenue, Rockville
• May 19 – Little People Daycare, 12720 Royal Carriage Drive, Germantown
• June 1 – Georgetown Hill Early School, 850 Nelson Street, Rockville
• June 8 – Rock Creek Forest Elementary School, 8330 Grubb Road, Silver Spring
• June 9 – Montgomery Child Care – Garrett Park, 4806 Oxford Street, Garrett Park. Note: Two victims at this school
• June 14 – Somerset Elementary School, 5811 Warwick Place, Chevy Chase
• June 19 – Bethesda Elementary School, 7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda. Note: Two victims at this school
• June 21 – Silver Spring International Middle School, 313 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring
• June 29 – Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, 13300 Arctic Avenue, Rockville

Sheffield was charged with multiple counts of credit card fraud-related offenses. He was released after posting a $3,000 bond.

Photos of Nakym Sheffield, courtesy of Montgomery County Police Department