In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement in Volusia County, Florida, has apprehended 26-year-old Keith Merard, a key figure in an intricate fraud operation. Merard’s arrest exposes a scheme involving impersonation of county employees to acquire and then resell expensive equipment.
Surveillance footage played a crucial role in capturing Keith Merard as he loaded stolen equipment into a black SUV in South Florida. This arrest marks the culmination of a complex fraud that persisted for nearly a year. The scam involved creating fictitious email identities to masquerade as high-ranking Volusia County officials, including roles like county manager and procurement director.
Merard, along with accomplices, targeted approximately 600 vendors connected to the county. By utilizing open lines of credit, they attempted to make fraudulent purchases. Two significant transactions were detected, one for $7,000 worth of reusable respirators and another for $48,000 worth of Starlink devices.
A critical error by Merard led authorities to him. After activating a stolen Starlink device, investigators were able to trace the activity back to him, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. As a result, Merard was detained and placed in Broward County Jail, facing charges related to organized fraud and the misuse of personal identification.
In the aftermath of this security breach, Volusia County has enhanced its cybersecurity protocols. Michael Ryan, the Community Information Director, highlighted the installation of a domain monitoring tool to swiftly detect and neutralize fraudulent email domains mimicking county staff. This initiative is part of broader efforts to protect vendors and combat fraud.
Ryan expressed gratitude towards the Volusia Sheriff’s Office for their exceptional work, emphasizing the county’s commitment to safeguarding against scams. The county also advised vendors on recognizing fraudulent purchase attempts, emphasizing vigilance and preventive measures.
Keith Merard’s arrest brings temporary relief to Volusia County as security measures are reinforced to prevent future incidents. The county’s proactive steps showcase a commitment to protecting its community and vendors from sophisticated scams.
Source: Abcactionnews
