Kemberle Braden

Chief of Police

Release: IMMEDIATE            Contact:  R. Harrell Public Information Specialist

Date: June 18, 2024                 Phone: (910) 433-1829                      OCA: 2024- 013936

All suspects, and persons charged with a crime, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Persons of interest are believed to have information relating to a case and have not been charged unless stated otherwise.

Traffic Stop Leads to Narcotic Investigation and Arrest

(Fayetteville, NC) – On June 9, 2024, Rodolfo De Jesus Martinez Gomez, (Hispanic male, 30 years old) of New York, and Marisol Vargas Ospina, (Hispanic female, 34 years old) of New York were arrested for multiple felony- level charges.

The arrests followed a traffic stop by Fayetteville Police Department's Central Patrol District, which revealed a stolen U-Haul truck containing luxury vinyl plank flooring from Home Depot. The truck was obtained using a fraudulent driver's license belonging to an out-of-state identity theft victim.

Gomez was initially charged with:

• Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
• Identity Theft

Ospina was initially charged with:

• Possession of a Stolen Vehicle

Both Gomez and Vargas were released from custody on June 10, 2024, after their secured bonds were modified to unsecured.

After further investigation by the Narcotics Vice Suppression Unit (NVSU), Gomez was arrested again on June 12, 2024, and June 14, 2024, for additional charges.

Gomez was charged with the following: 

• Identity Theft
• Obtaining Property by False Pretenses
• Accessing Computers to Defraud
• Financial Transaction Card Fraud

The Fayetteville Police Department would like to remind individuals that if you receive a phone call alleging to be from your bank or retail store that you patronize, do not assume it is a valid call just because they have your personal identifying information, or your caller ID shows that it is legitimate. Citizens need to call the customer service number on their financial transaction card or bank statement. Automated technology combined with spoofing allows criminals to exploit the system.

We encourage all citizens to remain vigilant for fraud and anything suspicious can be reported to law enforcement.

This is an on-going investigation.

If you have concerns about suspicious activity in your area, you can submit anonymous tips to Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crime Stoppers by calling (910) 483-8477. Crime Stoppers information can also be submitted electronically by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and available for Android devices in Google Play.