By Staff Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 29-year-old man, Brandon Lee Richardson, found himself in police custody following accusations of theft and fraudulent activity. According to authorities, Richardson allegedly swiped a phone and wallet from a vehicle in Gainesville’s midtown area before using the stolen credit card at several local businesses.

On the evening of November 26, around 7:12 p.m., officers with the Gainesville Police Department were dispatched to a residence in Midtown. The victim, who was preparing to leave for Thanksgiving, reported that she discovered one of her car doors ajar. Upon checking, she realized her cell phone and wallet had vanished.

After spending some time attempting to track down her phone, the victim contacted the police. When an officer arrived on the scene, she informed him that her phone’s GPS had indicated its presence at the Chevron gas station located at 1024 W. University Avenue.

A few hours following the initial report, the victim noticed unauthorized transactions on her card at several locations, including the Gate convenience store, Publix, and the Chevron in the Midtown vicinity. The investigating officer promptly reviewed surveillance footage from the Chevron to gather more evidence.

Employees at the Chevron provided the officer with details of the fraudulent transaction, and surveillance video at the time of the transaction showed a black male purchasing cigarillos using a red card, which matched the description of the victim’s bank card. The victim was wearing all black and was carrying a book bag.

While canvassing the area for the suspect, the officer found Richardson sitting at McDonald’s (1200 W. University Avenue), wearing the same clothing as the man in the video and carrying an identical book bag. The officer saw the same type of cigarillos hanging out of Richardson’s pocket.

A Chevron employee identified Richardson as the man who made the fraudulent transaction and said he is a “regular” who comes into the store “three to four times a day.”

Post Miranda, Richardson reportedly admitted going to the Chevron multiple times that day. He said he purchased cigarillos with a “gift card” because that was the only card he had, but he reportedly changed his story and said he had a “red” bank card that day. He reportedly said the card was given to him by a “random” guy he had smoked crack with earlier in the day. However, he could not provide a name or description of that person.

Richardson initially denied knowing where the card was stolen but later said he walked past that location every day; he denied breaking into the victim’s car.

A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a small amount of “crack” cocaine.

Richardson reportedly said he was in the Midtown area because he was released from prison a few weeks ago and didn’t have anywhere to stay.

Richardson, who is designated as a violent offender of special concern, has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and fraudulent use of a bank card. He has 15 felony convictions and eight misdemeanor convictions and was released from prison on October 29 after serving seven concurrent five-year sentences. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $75,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.