MARTA released the names Friday of seven suspects arrested earlier this month as part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal sale of its Breeze cards.
Computer hackers had bypassed Breeze card security features to make counterfeit cards. The personal information of legitimate Breeze fare card holders was not compromised.
The seven suspects, arrested Dec. 10, have been charged with theft, fraud and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations or RICO Act. They are Pierre Metteaux, 22; Jedadia Byrd, 34; Melvin Summers Jr., 45; Christine Carney, 44; Stephanie Finger, 26; Brenda Small, 42, and Michael Dallas, 33. The suspects were booked at the DeKalb County Jail.
“We take these crimes very seriously and will continue to investigate each and every case thoroughly,” Chief Wanda Dunham said. “We are working closely with the DeKalb District Attorney’s office and will seek to ensure that those involved are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
MARTA police have seized more than 400 of the fake cards, Dunham told Channel 2 Action News. She said the remaining bogus cards have been deactivated and that anyone who has one should turn it in to help MARTA with the investigation.
Breeze fare cards must only be purchased at vending machines in MARTA rail stations, at MARTA RideStores or online at itsmarta.com. Selling, altering or fraudulently obtaining MARTA fare media is illegal.
The MARTA Police Department requests that anyone with information about the illegal sale of Breeze fare cards contact 404-848-4584.
