FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Fayette County woman is facing a fraud investigation after authorities say she allegedly used an incarcerated man’s bank card to rack up more than $18,000 in unauthorized transactions.
According to investigators, the victim — identified as Kerr David Cole Jr. — reported the situation on March 17, 2026. Cole, who has been incarcerated since mid-2025 following a probation revocation, told authorities he left his Direct Express debit card with his live-in girlfriend, Miranda M. Duncan, to cover basic expenses such as his phone bill and occasional deposits into his jail account.
However, Cole said he later learned Duncan may have been taking significantly more money than authorized. Due to his incarceration, he told investigators he was unable to monitor the account, and added that login credentials may have been changed, preventing his family from assisting.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Cole’s bank records from Comerica Bank, reviewing transactions from July 2025 through mid-March 2026. The records revealed a pattern of frequent ATM withdrawals, retail purchases, and money transfers.
Investigators say many of the transactions occurred in Ansted and Fayetteville, including repeated ATM withdrawals at local gas stations and banks, as well as purchases at stores like Dollar General and Walmart. Additional spending included online services, food orders, and streaming subscriptions.
Surveillance footage obtained from a local Exxon station in Ansted reportedly shows Duncan using the card multiple times to withdraw cash and make purchases. In some instances, she allegedly made several back-to-back ATM withdrawals, each totaling over $200.
Authorities also reviewed footage from a United Bank ATM in Ansted, which they say shows Duncan making multiple large withdrawals — sometimes exceeding $300 per transaction — on several occasions between late 2025 and early 2026. Investigators estimate ATM withdrawals alone totaled approximately $2,800.
In addition, records indicate Duncan allegedly transferred funds from Cole’s account to her own using Cash App, totaling more than $1,300. Smaller amounts were also reportedly sent to other individuals believed to be acquaintances or neighbors.
Investigators say Duncan was not acting alone in all cases. Surveillance footage allegedly shows a man identified as Frank Scott Leilich Jr. accompanying Duncan during some transactions and, in at least one instance, collecting cash directly from an ATM using Cole’s card.
Authorities estimate the total unauthorized use of Cole’s account could exceed $18,000, with additional records still pending review.
The investigation remains ongoing.
