Palm Coast nail salon employee arrested after calling police about social media post
A 19-year-old Palm Coast woman was arrested after she identified herself as the suspect in a credit card theft investigation that was posted on the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office social media pages.
Brynn Gifford called authorities after seeing her photo in a post asking the public to help identify a credit card theft suspect. She was later arrested on multiple felony charges.
Fraud Investigation Begins
On August 9, deputies responded to a fraud report at the FCSO District 2 Office. The victim told deputies she had accidentally left her credit card at Palm Nails, a nail salon in Palm Coast, three days earlier.
When the victim checked her card activity, she discovered 10 fraudulent charges made between August 6 and August 9. The charges totaled over $500 at various stores and restaurants throughout Palm Coast.
Search for Suspect
A detective obtained surveillance footage from multiple stores where the fraudulent charges occurred. The footage showed a white female with long dark hair wearing a white camouflage jacket. However, investigators had no other information to identify the suspect.
On September 23, the Sheriff’s Office posted images on social media asking the public for help identifying the suspect. Later that same day, a woman called the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center saying she was the person in the photo and wanted to speak with detectives.
Interview and Evidence
Detectives met with Gifford at the District 2 Office. At first, she told detectives she had not done anything wrong. However, when shown surveillance images—including one showing the suspect at Walmart using the credit card to buy notebooks and pens—Gifford acknowledged she was the person in the photographs.
During the interview, Gifford showed detectives the contents of her backpack, which contained notebooks and pens that appeared to be the same ones purchased at Walmart.
Detectives also learned that Gifford worked as a receptionist at Palm Nails when the card was stolen.
Arrest and Charges
On October 15, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Gifford. She faces charges of fraudulent use of personal identification information of a person 60 years of age or older, fraudulent use of a credit card more than two times in six months, and petit theft.
The next day, the Fugitive Unit located Gifford in Daytona Beach. The Daytona Beach Police Department arrested her on an active warrant and transported her to the Volusia County Correctional Facility, where she was later released on a $4,000 bond.
Sheriff Comments on Case
Sheriff Rick Staly highlighted the role of social media in solving the case.
“This case is a great example of the power of social media and how it can help law enforcement,” Staly said. “Less than a day after we posted the suspect’s photo looking for more information, she came forward to speak to our detectives. Of course, her bad decision landed her in jail on multiple felony charges, but at least she ultimately did the right thing, because our detectives would’ve caught her sooner or later.”
