Significant Car Clouting Conviction

During 2002 and 2003, the park was hit with a large number of vehicle larcenies at several locations on the Tennessee side. An investigation was begun that led to the identification of Denita Kellett of Gadsden, Alabama, as the person responsible for the car clouts and the subsequent credit card and check fraud. She was indicted on eight state and federal felony counts, including theft of property from the vehicles (18 USC 661), unauthorized use of an access device totaling more than $1,000 in a calendar year (18 USC 1029 (a)(2)), and transporting and using fraudulent checks affecting interstate commerce (18 USC 2314). Kellett was arrested in Alabama and subsequently pled guilty to six of the eight counts. She was then allowed out on a bond, pending sentencing in May, 2006. In February, 2006, NPS investigators received a call from detectives in Birmingham, Alabama. A new rash of vehicle larcenies was occurring in the Birmingham area and assistance was being sought in hopes of identifying the responsible party. Case information was provided to NPS investigators and Kellett was once again identified as the responsible individual. Kellett was subsequently apprehended and convicted on state and local charges. The assistant U.S. attorney decided to allow Kellett to serve her state time before bringing her to Tennessee to be sentenced for her federal crimes. In May, 2007, Kellett was sentenced on her federal crimes. She received 30 months incarceration, which was at the high end of the sentencing guidelines, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $29,500 in restitution and assessed $600 in special assessments. This case was made largely on the basis of handwriting analysis evidence, as the store surveillance videos were often poor in quality and physical evidence at the larceny sites was often minimal at best. It should also be noted that the plea agreement was drawn up in such a way that Kellett accepted responsibility for 29 car clouts, even though she was only indicted for her participation in two such larcenies. Investigators are sure that Kellett was involved in well over 100 larcenies in the park during 2002 and 2003.