Police make arrest in scam targeting hotel guests

William Frelix

Metro Police, acting on a tip to Crime Stoppers, arrested a 62-year-old man suspected of using stolen credit card numbers to charge more than $100,000 in merchandise.

William T. Frelix was arrested at a motel on Brick Church Pike near Trinity Lane, police said.

Police say Frelix hired homeless people to go through Dumpsters near airport area hotels and motels looking for patrons’ credit card information. He then used the stolen credit card numbers to pay for food, tires, home renovation and construction materials, machinery and automotive parts.

At this point, Frelix faces one count of felony identity theft, but is under investigation in connection with the scheme police say has bilked the unsuspecting out of more than $100,000 over the last two years.

Police had been searching for Frelix for months. He is being held on $10,000 bail.