Staff Report 

WARSAW – Two people were arrested in connection to a debit card being stolen and charged a large sum of money.

Christy Little

Russel Melton Jr.

Christy Little, 43, 22 S. Saint Joseph Avenue, Niles, MI; and Russel Melton Jr., 46, 207 Auditorium Blvd., Winona Lake, were booked for fraud, level 6 felonies, both had a bond of $5,250 surety and cash.

According to the Affidavit of probable cause, Officers met with the victim in reference to a debit card being stolen the day prior. A total of $959.54 had been charged to the Key Bank card, and the victim believed it was Russel Melton Jr. due to the fact he was with him the day he had lost the card.

Officers then went to various convenience stores and Lake City Bank to review security footage. At the “Good to Go” gas station, a male was seen using the victims debit card to fill his car with gas. Other security footage was used to compare with the BMV license photograph to confirm that it was Melton who had been using the card.

A female was also present during the use of the stolen card who was later identified as Christy Little.

Footage obtained through a subpoena from the Lake City Bank showed Melton handing money to Little after using the stolen card to get cash from the bank. Police were able to identify the vehicle the two were in through the video and located it at 301 Auditorium Blvd, in Winona Lake.

Both Melton, and Little were booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Wednesday, July 29.