MPD: Hotel clerk stole 23 credit card numbers

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile police have arrested a man for credit card fraud and trafficking in stolen identities after they say he took credit card information from 23 motel customers.

Police said Bryant Onell Niles, 28, worked as a desk clerk at the Baymont Inn Suites in Mobile, where the alleged crimes took place.

They said he used his position to remove credit card information from 23 customers from the motel database and used 12 of the card numbers in a fraud scheme to steal cash from the business.

Police said he was found in possession of the 11 unused credit card numbers with names and expiration dates belonging to former customers of the motel.

Officials said he was also in possession of a small amount of spice.

Niles faces seven counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, trafficking in stolen identities and possession of a controlled substance. He also faces four counts of felony probation violation.

This isn't the first time Niles has been arrested for credit card fraud. FOX10 News did a story on him in March 2012, when he was arrested for three counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and second degree theft of property.

"Seems like he is not scared of consequences. He is currently on probation from his last conviction,” said Financial Crimes Sgt. Paul Soulier.

Mobile police said last year, Niles was working as a desk clerk at an unnamed hotel when he stole credit card information from a person who had stayed at the hotel.

Police said he used the guest's information to book hotels for himself and his friends. That's how authorities say they caught him.

According the Mobile Metro Jail log, Niles has been arrested and charged several times with identity theft, credit card fraud, and possession of a forged instrument.

We asked Baymont Inn and Suites if they ran a background check on Niles, before they hired him. It had no comment, but MPD gave us an answer.

"We spoke to the owner this business that was a victim, and he admitted to us that he did not do a background check prior to hiring this person. He said the background check was too expensive,” said Soulier.

An identity theft expert tells us, it's important to check your credit card statement, even after you’ve checked out of a hotel.

"You still need to monitor at least once a month so that you can get under the legal time limit to,” said Dennis Sumrall.