Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that On Wednesday night February 8, 2012 at 11:58 pm, agents of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 Nissan Altima for a traffic violation. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on interstate 10 in Madison County and was being operated by Kenitra Gilmer and occupied by one passenger Porscha D. Thomas.
While Agents were taking enforcement action, they detected signs of deception and possible criminal activity. Canine “Arko” was deployed and a positive alert for the presence of narcotic odor was indicated. The driver, Kenitra Gilmer, admitted that they had just recently smoked marijuana inside the vehicle prior to being stopped.
Agents conducted a probable cause search on the vehicle and discovered a small amount of marijuana. The search further discovered a large amount of U.S. Currency concealed in three bags and a large amount of Turbo Tax refund visa cards, each in the name of different people in the same type of bags as the currency.
Both, Gilmer and Thomas did not know the amount of the currency and stated that only a portion of the currency was actually theirs and were unsure of how much belonged to them. Gilmer and Thomas further denied knowing any of the people or how the cards got into the vehicle.
Agents contacted the Department of Homeland Security Investigations which responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. The currency totaled $52,194.00 and was seized with the Turbo Tax visa cards.
Currently, no formal charges are being filed on Kenitra Gilmer, B/F, DOB: 02/17/1985 of Charlotte, NC. and Porscha Thomas, B/F, DOB: 06/23/1985 of Jacksonville, Fl. However, the investigation into multiple identity thefts and fraudulent income tax returns continues and the case is being adopted by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations for possible Federal prosecution.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office will be entitled to its portion of currency and other potential assets seized as a result of initiating this investigation.
