On October 20, 2024, the Friendswood Police Department received a report from an elderly woman that her purse had been stolen out of a vehicle while parked at a business in the 2900 block of W. Parkwood Avenue. Following the theft, the suspect fraudulently used her credit card at a Kroger store in Houston. After reporting the vehicle burglary and credit card abuse, the elderly victim was informed that an unknown individual went to a financial institution in Houston and impersonated the victim to access the victim’s bank account and withdraw money. The victim also received a letter in the mail from another financial institution in Houston that showed a new account had been opened in the victim’s name. The victim had never been to a financial institution in Houston or opened any new bank accounts. Throughout the course of the investigation, investigators received documents and video evidence that identified two suspects, Courtney Christian Maynard, 28, of Lauderdale Lakes, FL and Michele Rene Bryan, 58, of Fort Lauderdale, FL.
In December 2024, the Harris County District Attorney’s office has accepted charges on both suspects. A full extradition warrant has been issued for Maynard for Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse- Elderly. Bryan was arrested on October 29, 2024, in Austin County, TX, after one of their financial institutions caught on to her committing ID theft and fraud. Bryan was subsequently located and arrested and remains in custody in the Austin County Jail. Charges were accepted by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office on Bryan for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information – Elderly. An arrest warrant with full extradition was issued, and Bryan will be extradited back to Harris County pending her cases in Austin County.
