Three arrested for false pretense and identity theft in D’Iberville
On April 17, 2024, Chief Shannon Nobles announced the arrest of Kristen Massingill, age 37, along with Darius Ladd, age 44, both of Gulfport, and Toni Bellais, age 36, of Vancleave, for False Pretense and Identity Theft at 10521 Auto Mall Parkway on February 14, 2024.
On February 14, 2024, D’Iberville Police responded to a suspicious person at 10521 Auto Mall Parkway. Upon officers’ arrival, officers learned a female went through the drive-up teller window and withdrew funds from an account using a fraudulent identification.
During the initial investigation, it was discovered she was wearing a wig and sunglasses to disguise herself. She was located by officers’ moments later recovering the wig and sunglasses worn. She was arrested on scene but gave false information as to her identity.
Her true identity was revealed later as Kristen Massingill revealing outstanding warrants from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department for two counts of Identity Theft.
The collaboration between D’Iberville Police Detectives and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Departments Investigators led to the identification of Toni Bellais and Darius Ladd also involved in the scheme with Massingill.
On March 14, 2024, Toni Bellais was arrested by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and was in possession of stolen identification. Darius Ladd was apprehended on April 02, 2024, by D’Iberville Detectives with the assistance of the Gulfport Police Department.
The continued efforts to locate suspects led to multiple items of evidence to include documents being recovered and identifying hundreds of potential victims across the United States. Massingill, Bellais, and Ladd were each charged with False Pretense and given a $50,000 bond by Harrison County Justice Court Judge Albert Fountain.
Massingill faced additional charges of five counts of identity theft, each with a $100,000 bond pending their initial appearance.
