Suspect in Siesta case facing more charges

George Dale Jr. Photo courtesy Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office

A man whom Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies had arrested in early August in connection with fraudulent credit card use on Siesta Key is facing additional charges, the Sheriff’s Office has reported.

George Dale Jr., 32, of 9312 Poplar Ave., Englewood, was arrested again on Sept. 7 in the county jail in downtown Sarasota and charged with six felony counts of Credit Card Forgery, according to a Sheriff’s Office report. Bond was set at $1,000 for each count, the report adds.

In August, Dale was arrested after he allegedly used a forged credit card to attempt to pay a bill at the Siesta Key Oyster Bar, 5238 Ocean Blvd., according to a Sheriff’s Office report. That card was found to have a false “Green Dot” number embossed on it, the report says.

Dale was charged with Forgery of a Credit Card and Grand Theft and placed under a $2,000 bond in connection with that case.

On Aug. 16, a detective contacted Green Dot in Los Angeles and ran the numbers from seven other cards found in Dale’s possession at the time of his arrest, the report says. The detective learned that only one of those cards actually had a Green Dot account number embossed on it. He researched the other card numbers and discovered some with numbers belonging to Bank of America; First USA; U.S. Bank National Association; and FIA Card Services, National Association, the report says.

“It was obvious that Dale or unknown person(s) had embossed those numbers onto the Green Dot cards,” the report adds.

Although the detective attempted to interview Dale about the other cards, the report continues, Dale invoked his right to remain silent.