Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Economic Crimes Unit
Mark Merrill (Arrested)
DOB: 2/1/1962
Address: 6820 Park Street South, South Pasadena
Additional Charges: Scheme To Defraud
What:
Detectives have charged a bank robbery suspect with additional charges after learning he was the suspect in four separate fraud cases.
Where:
The robbery occurred at the Bank of America located at 8181 54th Avenue North in unincorporated St. Petersburg. The fraud cases occurred at four private residences in the Five Towns Subdivision in unincorporated St. Petersburg.
When:
The robbery occurred at approximately 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2014. Detectives began their investigation into the fraud cases around May 2014.
How/Why:
Pinellas County detectives have charged a bank robbery suspect with an additional charge of Scheme To Defraud.
Detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit began their four month investigation into four separate incidents where the suspect agreed to replace cabinets or windows in the victims’ home, the victims’ paid the suspect for the work and the work was never completed. The four victims where all from within the Five Towns Subdivision in unincorporated St. Petersburg.
During their investigation, the suspect, identified as 52-year-old Mark Merrill was arrested in connection to an armed bank robbery at the Bank of America located at 8181 54th Avenue North in unincorporated St. Petersburg.
Detectives met with Merrill in July after he was arrested and he admitted to the allegations.
Merrill has been charged with one count of Scheme to Defraud.
The investigation continues.
Anyone with information on any of these fraud cases or if you have been a victim of this crime you are asked to contact Detective Rick Bates of the Economic Crimes Unit at (727) 582-6200 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.
Merrill’s booking photo is attached.
Booking Photo Mark Merrill