A Kansas City man, Avion Brown, has been charged with multiple fraud offenses, including four felony counts of fraudulent use of a credit device. Court documents reveal that Brown has been accused of stealing credit cards from vehicles and using them to purchase substantial amounts of gift cards.
Authorities report that Brown allegedly stole credit cards from cars in several locations, including Kansas City, Missouri, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, and Paola. According to Sergeant Chris Depue of the Lee’s Summit Police Department, the current investigation links him to 19 stolen cards across 31 incidents.
Last week, Brown was apprehended outside a Walmart in Independence after an employee recognized him and alerted an off-duty police officer. Despite attempting to flee, he was arrested, with officers recovering multiple stolen cards not registered in his name.
Court documents indicate that many of these stolen cards were taken from vehicles in Lee’s Summit, particularly around Legacy Park and the Paragon Star Sports Complex. Initially, thefts were reported at Lake Jacomo and other recreational facilities.
Since March, police have captured footage of Brown making several purchases with the stolen credit and debit cards from individuals in the area. Notable thefts occurred at Swope Park and a Walmart in Paola. Brown is also a suspect in nine fraud cases currently under investigation by the Lee’s Summit Police Department and has been implicated in thefts in both Leawood and Overland Park.
In light of these events, Sergeant Depue has emphasized the importance of vehicle security, urging residents to lock their cars and avoid leaving credit cards inside. “Keep your cards with you,” he advised. “If a card is lost or stolen, many have mobile apps that allow you to freeze or deactivate the card quickly.”
Police expect to connect Brown to additional cases as their investigation continues. This is not Brown’s first encounter with the law; he was previously convicted of theft and criminal use of a credit card in Johnson County in 2014. Just two months ago, he pleaded guilty to similar charges in Boone County.
A judge has set Brown’s bond at $25,000. As of now, he has not secured legal representation and is scheduled to appear in court next week to check on his attorney status.