At 3 p.m., detectives with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steven Hankins, 51 of Lake City at the conclusion of a seven month investigation.
The investigation, which began in September 2013 focused on an employee of Anderson Columbia, Inc. who was suspected of ordering items on corporate accounts and then selling them for personal gain. Detectives learned that many of the items were sold through a local business owned by Hankins, by conducting an open source search of eBay and Amazon.
During the course of the investigation, detectives served a search warrant on Hankins’ business and located evidence in this case along with some suspected marijuana. Additionally evidence has been continually recovered from unsuspected buyers throughout the U.S.
The results of the investigation were given to the State Attorney’s Office, who after reviewing it requested an arrest warrant be issued for Hankins. Hankins was arrested on that warrant and was booked on charges of organized fraud, 21 counts of dealing in stolen property and possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis with total bond of $270,000.
