Newberry Man Charged In Credit Card Thefts, Elderly Victim Out $7K

NEWBERRY ‒ A 50-year-old Newberry man was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 20, and charged with using a debit card belonging to a 75-year-old woman to make purchases and withdraw cash for his personal use.

On Dec. 4, 2023, the victim had approximately $7,000 withdrawn from her account. According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), the money was stolen incrementally during October and November of last year. The victim has mental deficiencies due to age and lives alone. However, her sister has power of attorney and reported the thefts.

The victim provided the defendant, Avery Donnell Hopkins, with her debit card and PIN to purchase one item. According to the ACSO, “The defendant ‘befriended’/conned the victim and received permission to intermittently sleep at the victim’s home over the next few months.” Hopkins maintained possession of the victim’s debit card. The victim’s sister learned of the transaction and called ACSO.

When law enforcement arrived at the victim’s home, they found the defendant there. Before uncovering the extent of the crimes, the deputy asked the defendant about what had occurred. The defendant told the deputy that he did take the money so he could reinstate his driver’s license.

It was discovered that the defendant allegedly made 18 fraudulent transactions at the Family Dollar in Newberry totaling about $1,000. For every transaction at Family Dollar, Hopkins made a small purchase of $2 - $15, and requested $50 cash back, the maximum cash-back allotment at the store.

In addition, Hopkins allegedly made 16 fraudulent withdrawals at ATMs in Newberry totaling about $6,000.

Although Family Dollar’s videos were purged or inoperable during the alleged transactions, the ACSO deputy subpoenaed Capital City Bank for their ATM video associated with the withdrawals. Of the 16 ATM withdrawals, 15 withdrawals occurred at Capital City’s ATMs in Newberry. Capital City’s footage showed Hopkins making all the withdrawals. In some of the withdrawals, Hopkins was viewed holding a red Wells Fargo card.

The money the defendant withdrew from the victim’s account was not used for the victim’s benefit and she did not give Hopkins permission to use it, thus establishing probable cause for the charges.

Hopkins has several convictions for possession of cocaine and a guilty conviction for petit theft first offense.

Bail was set at $110,000 by Judge Sheree Lancaster.

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