Homeless pair charged with fraudulent use of stolen credit card

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kyle Dean Courterier, 31, and Benjamin Eugene Padgett, 27, have been arrested on various charges related to the theft of a wallet from a vehicle and the fraudulent use of cards from that wallet at a number of Archer Road stores.

A resident of the Kensington South apartment complex off SW 20th Avenue reported to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) that he started getting alerts about fraudulent use of his credit and debit cards at about 8 a.m. on November 19. The victim reported that he had left his Louis Vuitton wallet, worth about $1,000, in the center console of his car, and he realized after receiving the alerts that his car had been burglarized.

The cards had been used at numerous locations along SW Archer Road, and using the fraudulent transaction records, officers reviewed surveillance video from most of the stores. The video reportedly showed three different men using the cards in the hours after the theft.

Surveillance video showed the same suspect using the cards at Publix (3135 SW 35th Blvd) for $102.57 and twice at Circle K (3960 SW Archer Road) for $157.10 and $29.20.

A bulletin was sent to all GPD officers, and two officers recognized Courterier from recent interactions and were able to provide his name.

Other surveillance videos reportedly showed Padgett using one of the victim’s cards at Walgreens (3455 SW Archer Road) for $205.95 and at Target (3970 SW Archer Road) for $214.99 and $324.09.

A total of $1,176.55 was charged to the victim’s cards before he could cancel them.

Pictures from surveillance videos were shown to businesses on SW Archer Road, where employees at several stores reportedly recognized Padgett as a homeless person they see often, but they did not know his name. Pictures of Padgett were posted on GPD’s Facebook page on December 14, and GPD soon received multiple tips with the same name: Ben Padgett or Benjamin Padgett. Several people who commented on Alachua Chronicle’s reposting of GPD’s request for assistance provided Padgett’s name and birthdate, and a family member of Padgett reportedly told GPD they had seen his picture on Alachua Chronicle.

Jordan was also reportedly seen using the victim’s cards on video; he was already in jail on unrelated charges when the other two sworn complaints were filed, and a sworn complaint has not yet been filed against Jordan.

Jordan was interviewed at the jail on December 15 and, after he was shown pictures from surveillance video, reportedly admitted he had used one of the victim’s cards at Walmart. When asked who the other person in the picture was, Jordan reportedly said it was “Benjy” and that “Benjy” had given him the card that morning.

Padgett was arrested on December 29 and reportedly confessed to using the victim’s cards. He reportedly said that Jordan had arrived at their homeless camp that morning and had given him and “Kyle” the cards. Padgett wasn’t sure of Kyle’s last name but said it was “Court-something”; he reportedly identified the man in the Publix surveillance video and a previous booking photo of Courterier as “Kyle.”

Padgett reportedly said he had lived with Courterier on two occasions and that they were recently roommates in an apartment where they were allowed to stay for about a month. He said they were “tent-mates” in the woods until recently.

Post Miranda, Courterier reportedly admitted his involvement in the thefts, also saying Jordan had brought the cards to him and Padgett. He reportedly said he made a mistake and used the cards mainly to get food for himself and for Jordan, at Jordan’s request.

Courterier has been charged with theft and fraudulent use of a credit/debit card. He has five felony convictions (none violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (none violent). Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $25,000.

Jordan has been in the Alachua County Jail since December 11 on $30,000 bail on charges of shoplifting and stealing a motorcycle. He has 14 felony convictions (none violent) and 14 misdemeanor convictions (none violent) and has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in March 2023. He has not been charged in this case but is listed as a co-defendant on both of the others’ arrest/sworn complaint documents.

Padgett has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, grand theft, and fraudulent use of credit/debit cards. He has two misdemeanor convictions (one violent). Judge Miller-Jones set bail at $90,000.

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.