Ripon Police officers recovered more than 550 fraudulent credit cards and arrested three individuals at a truck stop where they were reportedly partially parked in a handicapped zone.

Acting Sergeant Stephen Meece made contact with the two men and one woman in a 1996 Lexus shortly after 1 a.m. on Wednesday after noticing the vehicle was intruding into a handicapped zone. He asked for identification after smelling the presence of marijuana.  Meece found one of the passengers was on searchable probation which allowed a search of the vehicle owned by Billie Jeanene Jener Crawford, 29, of Modesto.

Crawford was jailed on five felonies at the San Joaquin County Jail where bail was set at $8,665,000 with her court date set for today in the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court at 1:25 p.m.

In the process of going through the car, officers found about 50 credit cards in the center console of the front seat area. Officers secured search warrants for the suspects’ homes in Modesto and Ripon, finding more than 500 fraudulent bank credit cards.

Crawford, Jonathan Lydell Damon, Jr., 31 of East Palo Alto; and Dushunte Latrace Peterson, 25, of Stockton were all taken into custody and transported to the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp.  It was unclear whether charges were dropped against the two men or if they were bailed out of custody.

Crawford was charged with possession of forged access cards, conspiracy and identity theft among five felony counts levied against her.

Damon was similarly charged with possession of forged access cards, making a factious card and identity theft. 

Peterson was charged with possession and forgery of a bank access card, conspiracy, unauthorized use of a card and conspiracy.

Ripon officers are continuing their investigation of what possibly is a nationwide ring.  Detectives Sgt. Terry Jensen, Gordon West and Alex Burgos have been assigned to the investigation.