Two men were charged in connection with the theft of a wallet and use of a credit card along with drug and traffic charges following a Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office investigation early Sunday morning.
Bryant Lakerry Graham, 39, of Dubach, and Jaquinten Andrew Kinsey, 27, of Ruston were arrested on numerous charges after the vehicle Graham was driving was stopped for a traffic violation.
On September 7, a Ruston man reported the loss of his wallet containing credit cards and a large amount of cash. The man told a deputy he placed it on the roof of his car and forgot about it. He was unaware the wallet was missing until he received alerts his Discovery card had been used in fraudulent purchases at local businesses.
Several hours later at about 2:00 a.m. on September 8, the same deputy stopped a Buick on West California Avenue for excessively dark window tint. The Buick’s temporary license plate was improperly displayed so that the number could not be read.
The deputy found the tint was allowing only 13% light transmission, far below the legal standard in Louisiana law.
Graham, the driver, did not have liability insurance and his driver’s license was under suspension. Kinsey, a backseat passenger, appeared very nervous and would not look at the deputy. When asked to step out of the vehicle, Kinsey fled on foot.
A records check indicated Kinsey was wanted on two warrants for failure to appear in Ruston City Court on speeding charges.
During the stop, Graham opened his car door and a deputy heard a noise. A brown purse was found under the vehicle and Graham said it was his and that it must have fallen out when he opened his door.
The purse smelled of marijuana and was searched. Two bags of marijuana, a glass smoking pipe, and a small amount of methamphetamine were found inside. About $4,800 in cash and the Discover card of the victim who lost the wallet were also in the purse.
Graham said the cash was from an insurance payout and that he found the Discover card in a gas pump at Walmart. Several items from stores where the Discover card had been used were found in the Buick.
Graham was arrested and when asked if he had any drugs on him, admitted he had a bag of methamphetamine in his underwear.
The LPSO investigation revealed the Buick was purchased earlier in the day for cash.
Kinsey was later found at his residence on Bistineau Street in Ruston. He was arrested for resisting an officer and the two warrants. Bail was set at $10,000.
Graham was booked for felony theft, possession of stolen things, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal window tint, improper display of license plate, driving under suspension, and no liability insurance. Bail was set at $40,000 but he is also being held for the Probation & Parole Unit of the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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