Florida Woman’s Bizarre Arrest: How Identifying Herself Led to Unexpected Charges

A peculiar twist led to the arrest of a Florida woman after she inadvertently identified herself as a suspected thief through a social media post, according to local law enforcement. The incident unfolded when 19-year-old Brynn Gifford was detained on charges including fraudulent use of personal identification information of an elderly person, repeated fraudulent use of a credit card, and petit theft, as reported by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation began on August 9, triggered by an alleged fraud at Palm Nails, a nail salon located in the quaint city of Palm Coast, approximately 60 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The victim, who had visited the salon on August 6, discovered her credit card was missing three days later.

Upon reviewing her card transactions, the victim found a series of 10 unauthorized purchases, totaling over $500, made between August 6 and August 9. These transactions were conducted at various stores and restaurants scattered throughout Palm Coast, according to a press release from the authorities.

The alleged victim said she visited the salon on Aug. 6, and, three days later, realized she no longer had her credit card in her possession.

Then, when she eventually checked her card activity, the woman noticed “10 fraudulent charges had been placed between Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, with over $500 in purchases at stores and restaurants throughout Palm Coast,” according to a press release.

During the ensuing investigation, a detective obtained surveillance footage from various stores where the victim’s card was used. Authorities considered their suspect to be a white woman with “long dark hair” and who “was wearing a white camouflage jacket.”

Otherwise, however, investigators had little to go on.

But that little bit allegedly proved to be just enough.

On Sept. 23, the sheriff’s office posted an “attempt to identify” request on Facebook featuring a low-resolution photo of a woman wearing a white hoodie.

As it turns out, Gifford herself reached out about the post.

“Later that day, detectives were notified that a woman had called the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center and advised that she was the individual in the photo and asked to speak with detectives working on the case,” the press release reads.

Detectives then met with the defendant for an interview.

Initially, Gifford said she had not done anything wrong, according to the sheriff’s office.

The surveillance footage was then brought to bear again.

“However, when detectives showed Gifford images of the suspect taken from the surveillance footage — one of which showed the suspect in Walmart using the credit card to purchase items including notebooks and pens — she acknowledged that it was her in the photographs,” the press release goes on. “Later during the interview, Gifford showed detectives the contents of her backpack, which contained notebooks and pens appearing to be the same ones purchased at Walmart.”

The defendant was later found to have been employed at the nail salon in question as a receptionist at the time the victim’s credit card was stolen, the sheriff’s department claims.

On Oct. 15, a warrant was issued for Gifford’s arrest and she was taken into custody the next day, according to law enforcement.

On Oct. 16, the defendant was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Correctional Facility in Daytona Beach.

Gifford was later released on a $4,000 bond.

“This case is a great example of the power of social media and how it can help law enforcement,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. “Less than a day after we posted the suspect’s photo looking for more information, she came forward to speak to our detectives. Of course, her bad decision landed her in jail on multiple felony charges, but at least she ultimately did the right thing, because our detectives would’ve caught her sooner or later.”