Hannick faces 17 counts in identity theft case

A Roland man has been charged with 17 counts in Sequoyah County District Court after he was found to be in possession of stolen credit cards and mail belonging to others in two different states.

Brandon Hannick, 29, was charged Jan. 11 and his bond was set at $25,000. He is facing four felony counts of unlawfully obtaining personal identifying information, five felony counts of possession of credit card belonging to another and five felony counts of transporting stolen property into state. He is facing criminal misdemeanor counts of forgery in the second degree, possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He is now set for a Feb. 8 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.

Roland Police officer Chris Waters reported on Jan 3 that Hannick was arrested at First National Bank in Roland after attempting to cash a stolen check that had reportedly been taken from a mailbox in Fort Smith, Ark. Hannick was also found to have a felony warrant out of Crawford County, Ark.

During an inventory of the vehicle, authorities reported finding numerous pieces of mail belonging to others in Fort Smith, Greenwood, Roland, Muldrow, Vian and other towns, and at least six credit cards belonging to different individuals, some with receipts showing transactions, according to the probable cause affidavit. A notebook was also found with three individual’s personal identity, including social security numbers, date of birth, mailing address/ home addresses, and phone numbers. Waters reported after contacting the individuals, none of them reportedly knew who Hannick was or how he obtained their information.

According to the affidavit, Hannick used one of the stolen credit cards at Cherokee Travel Plaza in Roland on Jan. 2. A receipt from the transaction was located where officers were able to pull video surveillance showing Hannick in the same vehicle as the one he was arrested in the following day.

An eyeglass case was found inside the vehicle that contained a crystal substance which tested positive for methamphetamine, along with a smoking device with burnt residue.

Waters reported at least three people in Arkansas confirmed their mail and/or credit cards had allegedly been stolen from their mailboxes.

Court records show Hannick was also charged in March 2022 and April 2022 with counts of identity theft-unlawful use of personal identifying information.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said each count of identity theft is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not less than one year nor more than five years and/or a fine of up to $100,000; possession of stolen credit card is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or up to a $3,000 fine, or both; and transporting stolen property into state is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for up to five years or by a fine or not more than $5,000, or both.