2 arrested on credit card fraud

PALMER — Two Valley women who stole a credit card and went on a $1,000 shopping spree last year have been indicted after a months-long investigation, authorities said.

A grand jury indicted Tylia Jackson, 28, and Natalie Nye, 23, of Wasilla May 15 on two counts each of fourth-degree theft, and three counts each of misdemeanor fraud, according to court documents.

Jackson and Nye allegedly took items from unlocked vehicles at the Wasilla Vet Clinic and made various purchases with a stolen credit card in September of last year. Both had been arrested on probation violations since the thefts.

Police responded to two reports of theft from a vehicle at around 3 and 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 4, 2014, and took accounts from two victims who reported their purses stolen, according to an affidavit written by Wasilla Police Officer Bobby Rader. One of the victims reported fraudulent charges on her credit card. The investigating officer then visited the locations of the charges, including Play It Again Sports, Sears, Target, Sports Authority and GameStop to investigate. A witness told troopers two women entered the store and used a victim’s card to purchase $278.07 worth of clothing. Persons matching that description could be seen on video footage from Sears, Target and Sports Authority.

“One female was reported to be thin and the other heavier,” Rader wrote.

The pair made two transactions totaling $509.81 using the same card at Sears, where they purchased two phones, two Bluetooth headsets, a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and a watch at around 3 p.m. A surveillance video from Target showed the two women making a purchase at 4 p.m., of $200.12 before leaving together. The same women appeared on footage at Sports Authority at 4:15 p.m., when they failed to make a purchase of $580. Authorities then followed a report from a Sports Authority employee that the suspects subsequently went to GameStop, where employees claimed that the same females attempted but failed a charge of $227.

Another Wasilla officer later identified the larger of the two women as Jackson, whom authorities had previously contacted regarding an incident of theft in March 2013.

Representatives from Alaska State Troopers and Palmer Police substantiated the identification of Jackson, along with numerous confirmations from citizens and affirmations on a Facebook group called “Stop Valley Thieves.”

Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Police and members of the “Stop Valley Thieves” Facebook page all confirmed Jackson was the woman in the surveillance photos posted on the page.

Police received statements from Nye’s family and probation officer that named her as the other suspect.

On Sept. 29, 2014, authorities attempted to locate Jackson at a residence on Shady Grove Lane on a probation violation, Rader wrote. As they neared the address they saw a hooded figure matching the description of the suspect, later identified as Jackson. Jackson ignored orders to stop and ran into the woods behind the nearby residence, after turning and recognizing the officers. She tripped, fell and got up again, at which point officers arrested her.

Jackson claimed she had simply fled out of fear. Police found a pocketknife and a Samsung tablet on the ground around her. She also admitted to being present both at the theft of the purses and fraudulent use of the credit card, but alleged that she didn’t actively take part in either incident. Jackson also told police the tablet was indeed purchased using a stolen credit card, but said it was a birthday present from Nye.

Both suspects remained in Hiland Mountain Correctional Center as of Monday morning. Jackson’s bail amount for the warrant was $5,000. Nye’s bail was set at $10,000 cash or corporate bond with a court-approved third-party custodian.

Contact Kaden Weaver at 352-2270 or kaden.weaver@frontiersman.com.