Huron co., Mich. – A Battle Creek man pleaded guilty to credit card theft in Huron County, according to the Huron County Prosecutor’s Office.

On Monday, July 14, 25-year-old Ruben Whimper pleaded guilty to false pretenses – $1,000 – $20,000 in the 52nd Circuit Court. Whimper could face up to five years in prison and be fined up to $10,000, the prosecutor said.

In February, Bad Axe Police Detective Derek Joy received a complaint that an individual had used stolen credit card numbers to buy more than $7,000 in lottery tickets at a local party store, the prosecutor said.

Joy was able to review surveillance footage to get a general description, the prosecutor said.Michigan Lottery told Joy that many of the tickets were redeemed at the Bad axe Walmart.

The prosecutor said Walmart provided video of the ticket redeemer, as well as his car. several Meijer stores were the tickets were also redeemed provided video footage of the suspect and the same car.

The Kalamazoo Public Safety team helped Joy perform facial recognition analysis of the footage, identifying Whimper. Cell phone records and financial data received from the bank associated with the stolen card backed up the identification, the prosecutor said.

A warrant was made,and Whimper was subsequently arraigned on charges on March 14,the prosecutor said.

“This is a brilliant example of investigative techniques and dogged determination by det.Derek Joy and the Bad Axe Police department,” said prosecutor Tim Rutkowski. “In many communities, a financial crime of this nature would not be investigated or prosecuted due to available law enforcement resources. We in Huron County are lucky to have law enforcement agencies who are willing to devote the time and effort to ensure that all those who commit crimes, including crimes of a financial nature, are brought to justice.”