Houston man accused of burglarizing local nursing home also wanted in multiple states for similar offense – Muddy River News

QUINCY — A Houston man was apprehended Tuesday for residential burglary in Adams County.

The Quincy Police Department said in a news release that it began an investigation in February after reports came from an unidentified local retirement community that an unknown person had entered residents’ apartments to steal credit and debit cards, which were then used in various stores. in Quincy.

The Quincy Police Department detective used the Flock license plate recognition system to locate a suspect believed to be from the Houston area and the car he was driving at the time of the incident. The months-long investigation concluded Tuesday after a traffic stop conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, based on information provided by Quincy detectives.

Markinious Hartfield, 43, was taken into custody on an Adams County arrest warrant. He was also wanted in Indiana, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Iowa for similar offenses targeting assisted living and retirement communities across the United States. Possible charges are pending in other states based on information provided by QPD to other jurisdictions.

Hartfield is being held at the Brazoria County, Texas Detention Center awaiting extradition.

This incident does not appear to be the first time Hartfield has been arrested under similar circumstances.

The Marietta (Ga.) Daily Journal reported in January that the Acworth Police Department identified Hartfield in connection with credit card and debit card thefts at an assisted living facility in Acworth, Georgia. A spokesperson for the Acworth Police Department said Hartfield has been arrested several times. for similar incidents in other states.

While it was originally suspected that staff members at the Acworth assisted living facility were entering rooms to steal credit or debit cards, investigators learned that the suspect, who was not employed by the The establishment, had entered the company wearing blouses similar to those worn by staff members.

The Denver Post reported in September 2009 that Denver-area nursing home residents were being targeted by a ring of thieves posing as nurses to gain access to senior living communities. Hartfield was arrested as part of an investigation by Denver law enforcement.

Between May and September 2009, thieves struck at least 20 times, with losses from fraudulently used credit cards estimated at between $50,000 and $100,000. The Colorado cases are believed to be linked to a nationwide criminal network that committed similar thefts in Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, Kansas and Alabama.

The Denver Post article states that Hartfield was also convicted of similar crimes in Louisiana in 2006.