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WARSAW — Last week, the Warsaw Police Department announced that three individuals have been identified as key suspects in a widespread retail fraud scheme in a multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted across multiple states.
Investigators report that the suspects, all from Flint, Michigan, targeted businesses throughout Eastern North Carolina and at least nine other states. They employed deceptive tactics involving invalid gift cards to fraudulently obtain prepaid Visa cards and lottery tickets from retail stores.
The primary suspect, Darious Delshawn Welch, 20, is currently in custody, facing a total of 31 charges. Welch was extradited to Duplin County on August 26 and is being held in the Duplin County Jail under a $180,000 secured bond. Another suspect, Jalen Jamal Coleman, 19, is in custody in Michigan, facing charges related to similar fraud schemes. The Warsaw Police Department has issued a warrant for his extradition to North Carolina. Coleman has previously been linked to fraud cases in Columbia, South Carolina.
Keaysha Warren, 22, has not yet been apprehended and was identified through forensic evidence, including the use of her EBT card at crime scenes. Arrest warrants and extradition requests have been issued, but her current whereabouts remain unknown and are under investigation.
On June 20 and 21, the group allegedly targeted multiple retailers during a two-day spree in Onslow and Duplin Counties, including Sheetz and Best Mart in Warsaw. The suspects reportedly deceived store clerks into activating high-value cards by presenting non-functioning Cash App or YouTube gift cards, then fled the premises with the merchandise without making payment. According to law enforcement, losses per incident often exceeded $5,000.
Law enforcement reported that surveillance footage and license plate reader data captured images of the suspects and the white Volkswagen Tiguan used in these crimes. The vehicle was registered to Avis Rental, and further investigation revealed connections to all three suspects.
Authorities believe this fraud ring had been operating for at least two years and may have targeted retailers across multiple states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Delaware, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Indiana.
The Warsaw Police Department noted that this case is part of an ongoing multi-jurisdictional effort involving agencies such as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, and local police departments in various states.
Additional charges may arise as the investigation continues, and law enforcement is seeking public assistance in identifying any other individuals who may be involved.
