PHOTO: Kelvin Ruail Dunn
A La Plata couple who has scammed a local civic organization by posing as displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina has been identified and the Charles County Sheriff's Office and Crime Solvers are asking for the public's assistance in locating them.
Kelvin Ruail Dunn, 31, and Zenia Ann Pebbles-Dunn, 30, posed as Katrina victims and received financial aid, including lodging at local motels and gift cards, from a local civic organization. The Dunns also applied for continuation of this aid through the American Red Cross.
The investigation began Sept. 28 when the Sheriff's Office received an anonymous call from someone reporting the Dunns were fraudulently obtaining aid from civic organizations and were staying at a local motel. A detective identified the couple as residents of La Plata prior to, during and after Hurricane Katrina. Through her investigation, the detective learned the Dunns first obtained aid from a local organization and then contacted the America Red Cross to continue receiving aid. The Red Cross approved the request and sent a check to the Dunns, but detectives intercepted it before the Dunns received it.
On Sept. 30, detectives obtained warrants for the Dunns' arrest but have been unable to locate the couple. The Sheriff's Office has released a photograph of Kelvin Dunn, which can be viewed on the Sheriff's Office Web site, www.ccso.us. No photograph of Zenia Dunn is available. Anyone who knows the Dunns' whereabouts should contact Det. Caroline Baker at 301-609-6558. Those who would like to provide their information to Crime Solvers should call 1-866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment.