Former Mugs 'N Jugs Server Arrested in Fraud Investigation

While working as a server at Mugs 'N Jugs in Port Richey, Kathryn Shana'e Perez scanned credit cards of customers and forwarded the information to be used in an identity theft and fraud scheme, according to authorities.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office detective John Suess questioned her, and he got this response:

“She identified that the people she skimmed were the ones that ... ran her around and made her work real hard and the ones that were bad tippers,” said Suess, with the economic crimes unit.

“The bad tippers story doesn’t quite jive because the tip wouldn’t have been left until after she returned the card. … It was comical. That was her rationalization for why she did this.”

Perez was arrested Wednesday in Hillsborough County on a Pasco warrant and identified as one person involved in the operation that racked up $5,753 in fraudulent purchases.

Three people are currently identified as being involved. Perez's arrest was part of an ongoing investigation. New charges were placed Wednesday on Brandon Quillen, who is believed to be the leader and was already in jail in Pasco County.

Rebecca Ann Pixton, previously arrested on identity theft and credit card fraud charges, was identified as part of the ring by authorities but faces no new charges yet.  

Authorities are looking at others in the case, Suess said.

Perez, of Tampa, worked at Mugs 'N Jugs for about four months before the investigation, Suess told the press. Between May 30 and June 23, she scanned seven victims’ credit cards with the intent to defraud, according to a Pasco arrest warrant. She used a credit card skimmer, a handheld device used to scan.

Suess said that there may be others whose cards were scanned.

Perez would pass the device to Quillen, of Hudson, according to authorities. Quillen used the information to “clone" credit cards and give them to associates, according to accomplices. Detectives are reviewing video to try and identify the partners they don't already know about.

Pixton apears to have been involved with making the fraudulent purchases, Suess said.

Quillen worked at Radioshock part time. A co-worker and a former roommate have information about the case, according to authorities, but are not facing charges. 

Locations where the cards were used include the Radioshack at the Gulf View Square Mall and two other Radioshack locations along U.S. 19 in the Port Richey area, Suess said.

Most of the victims were from the west side of Pasco, Suess said. One is from Zephyrhills.   

On July 22, Perez told Suess she had been given a television and a laptop computer for her involvement.

Perez was released from Hillsborough County Jail on $50,000 bail Thursday morning.

Perez faces seven charges of criminal use of identification information, one charge of scheme to defraud and one charge of possession of a scanning device.

Quillen was charged with six counts of criminal use of identification, five counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, one count of scheme to defraud, one count of possession of a scanning device and one count of possession of credit card-making equipment. His previous charges included credit card fraud and identity theft offenses.

Anyone who dined at Mugs 'N Jugs in recent months and thinks they might have been a victim of the scanning can contact Suess at 1-800-854-2862.