NORTH CAROLINA — A routine traffic stop in Yancey County resulted in the arrest of two individuals wanted in multiple states on identity theft and related charges.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol pulled over a vehicle and discovered that one of the passengers had an outstanding warrant.
The Yancey County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from a K-9 team and detectives, found drug paraphernalia, stolen identities, fraudulent documents, and counterfeit checks connected to several states.
Authorities identified the suspects as 67-year-old David Gary Teague of Jasper, Georgia, and 28-year-old Malik Jay Cisneros of Atlanta, Georgia. Teague faces more than a dozen charges, including forgery, identity theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia, with bond set at just over $1 million. Cisneros faces similar charges and is also held on a $1 million bond; he is expected to be extradited to Georgia to face additional warrants.
Sheriff Shane Hilliard praised the coordination between the Highway Patrol and his deputies, calling the arrests “an example of strong cooperation.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities said additional charges could be filed.
