On May 20, 2024, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office received a report of identity fraud from one of our residents. Over $9,000 was spent and three credit card accounts were fraudulently opened at retailers at University Town Center in Sarasota, using the victim’s personal information. Our Criminal Investigative Division (CID) detectives immediately launched an investigation, obtaining surveillance footage and tirelessly working to uncover the identity of the suspects involved.
After issuing a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) alert to surrounding law enforcement agencies, we discovered that the same suspects were involved in similar identity fraud cases across the state, affecting multiple victims. Through careful investigation, our detectives identified the suspects as Jeremy Rashad Hepburn and Catherine Melissa Silva, both with a history of fraud-related charges.
On August 1, 2024, arrest warrants were filed against Hepburn and Silva. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our team and surrounding law enforcement, Jeremy Hepburn has been apprehended by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. However, Catherine Silva is still on the run.
Sheriff Jim Potter commends our dedicated detectives for their relentless work in solving this case. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Catherine Silva, please take a look at the images provided and contact our Investigative Bureau at 863-993-4700. Your assistance could help bring justice to those impacted by these fraudulent acts! #FraudArrest #BOLO
