Man caught in drug raid also accused in hotel scam
A man who was arrested in a drug raid Tuesday night was also wanted for scamming elite hotels, Channel 2 Action News reported.
James Tatum, who waived his bond hearing Wednesday, was caught with drugs and forged checks that totalled $100,000, Atlanta police said.
The 31-year-old suspect also allegedly likes staying at upscale hotels, running up large room service bills and paying for it all with stolen credit card information. Detectives said they believe he obtains other people’s information, then uses computer programs to steal their credit details.
Targets of the alleged spending sprees are said to include The Mansion of Buckhead, the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead and the W Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections website, Tatum was sent to prison in 2006 on drug and credit fraud charges. He was released in 2009.
Police told Channel 2 that Tatum has been arrested multiple times since then.
About the Author
Angel K. Brooks is a senior manager for the programming team, focusing on quality control. She has been with the AJC since 2007 and started as a sports copy editor. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University.
