ISP: Suspect allegedly stole $800 rebate card

Ellis/ Vigo Co. Jail

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

Brandy N. Ellis,  36, of West Terre Haute, was arrested this afternoon on a warrant and booked into the Vigo County Jail on preliminary charges of forgery, theft and fraud following a nearly week-long Indiana State Police investigation.

Troopers from the Putnamville Post served a Vigo County Superior Court search warrant at the suspect's residence, located at 5481 West Old US 40, around 1:30 p.m.

ISP Sgt. Joe Watts explained that the investigation began after a Parke County couple contacted Trooper Michael Organ about the unauthorized use of an $800 rebate card from a national home improvement chain store in Terre Haute. 

Trooper Organ reportedly conducted many interviews, followed up on various leads and viewed several minutes of surveillance footage regarding the allegations of unauthorized use of the rebate card. 

"The rebate was intended for the Parke County victims and at some point, intercepted by the suspect via the US Mail. The suspect and possibly others, then used the rebate card to purchase numerous items at the store, all of which were recovered at the residence," Watts said, adding that a 1999 Dodge 3500 pick-up truck, reported stolen to the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 25 last year, was also discovered at the residence. The truck was impound and the VCSO contacted, he said.
 
The investigation ongoing.
 
 ISP Troopers Ted Robertson and Ty Lightle assisted at the residence.