On February 7th, 2026, police arrived at a hotel after an employee was accused of stealing customer's credit card information and using it to make unauthorized purchases. She immediately denied everything, claiming she had no idea how the transactions happened. >> Hi Lexi. How are you? >> Good. How are you? >> Good. Hey, I'm Sergeant Potter. This is Corporal Ingram. Just so you know, both of our cameras are recording. Um hey, I'm going to have you step out here with us. >> Okay. >> Okay. Is that a heating pad? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I have a bad back. >> Oh, do you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. You going to come out this side? >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. So, you're under arrest right now. You have a warrant for your arrest. >> For for what? >> So, just place you I'll go through everything with you here in just a second, okay? >> When we first approached Lexi at the hotel desk, she was holding a heating pad complaining of a bad back and appearing entirely focused on the sudden interruption of her shift. She was told she had an outstanding warrant for a suspended driver's license, an issue she didn't seem to contest. >> Okay. >> But then the second shoe dropped, an arrest warrant. >> read you your rights real quick and then I'll tell you what's going on. >> Okay. >> And we do have somebody else here to relieve you from your shift. >> Okay. >> Okay. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right at this time to talk to a lawyer to have him present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford [snorts] a hired lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questions if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand each of these rights I've explained to you? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, a few things. You have a warrant for your arrest for driving with a suspended license out of the sheriff's office, is that right? In addition to that, you're also being placed under arrest for theft of >> For what? >> Well, that's what I would like to talk with you about. So, what we'll do is once we get all your stuff gathered and everything, we'll go down to my office and you might be able to clarify some things for me. >> Okay. >> On that, but I'm confident that you know what it is. >> [snorts] >> Will you go grab them and let them know so they can come in and we can get her things? Do you have your cell phone on you? >> No, it's at the desk. Okay. >> Can you go grab her cell phone for you for me? >> Is there anything else you want? >> Um my There's a black bag on the back desk that is also mine. >> Is it So, is any of this stuff here that's in your bag belong to the business? >> No. >> No, so the notebook and all that stuff >> No, that's not mine. >> That's all yours? >> Yes. >> I'll take that out there. So, before we get going into everything that we need to talk about, I got to go just through some standard questions as part of our protocol sheet. Today's date is February 7th, 2026 at approximately 22:40 hours. Currently located in the Ellensburg Police Department in interview room B. Along with me is Alexis King. Alexis, can you spell and say or say and spell your entire name, please? >> Alexis Lynn King, A L E X Y S S L Y N N K I N G. >> Obviously, I explained to you that you were under arrest. You have a warrant for your arrest for a driving violation. You're also under arrest for um theft and you had indicated when we were at the hotel that you were confused by that. >> Yeah. >> It's been a little bit of time since we spoken about that in the car ride and everything. Do you have an idea as to what I'm actually here talking about regarding the theft? >> No. >> You have no clue. You don't You can't think of anything that you've done that would be wrong where you would be uh arrested for a theft charge? >> No. >> Okay. Were you going to get a pizza tonight? >> Um yes. >> Okay. And did it show up? >> Yes. >> It did? >> Yes. >> Okay. And how did you pay for that pizza? >> Um with my card I had on file. It auto filled. >> It auto filled your card? >> I just I clicked one of the cards that was on there. Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, in order to auto fill something, you have to input it manually first and then save it into your your wallet or whatever phone that you have an iPhone, right? So, it'd be your wallet. So, you have to save that on there. Is that correct? >> Yeah. >> So, tonight you ended up placing an order for Domino's and you're saying that you used what your what you thought was your card. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. So, the problem is you didn't use your card. You used a card to one of the guests at the hotel. >> How >> Go ahead. >> No, no. Go ahead. >> No, no. You're you're asking me. >> No, I just I don't understand how that would work. >> I I think we both know how that would work. Um is there any reason that you would be using your personal phone for work business inputting people's credit cards? >> No. >> For work. You don't do that in any fashion. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, [sighs] how would it auto fill a customer's information, credit card, the credit card number, the expiration date, and the three-digit PIN? How would that be possible to auto fill if you're not using your phone for any work-related purposes, Lexi? >> I I I don't know. >> Okay. Because it wasn't this wasn't the first time that this has happened. You also did it when you went to watch the movies on the 4th at the theater. Do you remember going to the movies? >> Yes. >> And what movie did you see? >> I I know obviously what movie I saw. I just can't even think right now. Um Zootopia. >> Zootopia. Okay. Just how many tickets did you buy? >> Um three. >> And how did you buy those? >> On online. >> Online? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And how much about how much was that? >> Um 20 something dollars. >> Okay. Sounds right. >> Yeah. >> And then how much was the pizza tonight? >> 30 something. >> Okay. Yeah, I think it was 40 something, but regardless. >> Uh-huh. >> Um and even prior to this, I believe this is not the first time this has happened. We just couldn't prove it then and now we can. You live in Yakima, yes? >> Yes. >> So, a while back Sergeant Savanyu also took a report from another customer that had stayed at the Red Lion saying, "Hey, I stayed at the Red Lion and then a couple days later there were these fraudulent charges on my my credit card down in Yakima." Specifically down in Yakima. One of them was from Walmart. One of them was to KFC. And I don't remember off the top of my head where the other one was, but it was another online merchant of sorts. >> Okay. >> And whose name was associated with that? So, the reason I ask how it could possibly be, Lexi, that that gets auto filled >> Mhm. >> is to help understand because maybe there's a reason for it. I I don't know. I I I'm not in the hotel business. So, there might have been a a legitimate reason you were using your phone input stuff, but it doesn't sound like it. >> No. >> And talking with the owner, it doesn't sound like that's the case either. >> No. >> So, help me understand how it could possibly be that two different people had their credit cards used by you on accident to purchase things. >> I don't have an answer for that. >> I can't put words in your mouth because I could, [snorts] but I think that's disrespectful. I I don't want to do that. I have my own assumptions. >> Mhm. >> And I just kind of laid it out why you've done what you've done. Like using other people's stuff. My assumptions are my assumptions. It helps me understand if I actually hear why you did this, how you did it, and what the purpose is for. This might be a difficult for you to answer, but I want you to do it to the best of your ability. How long have you been doing this? >> Um recently. Um I actually just barely started getting actual 40 hours, like work weeks. >> Okay. >> And that was literally starting after the manager we had walked out on us. And that's a whole other thing. I thought he was a really good friend of mine. And I found out after he left that he was actually the reason I wasn't getting hours. Um I only got two shifts a week, two 8-hour shifts. I got um 16 hours a week at the entire time [clears throat] he was there. He gave me a Thursday and a Friday um night audit shift, which was 8 hours. I asked for more hours many, many times. He said ownership won't let him. He's tried to put me on the schedule I'm taking off. Um even um hearing from other employees themselves, they said that um even when they had to call out or requested a day off, they're like, "Well, why don't you just have Alexis do it? She only gets two shifts anyways." And he's like, "No, no, she doesn't want them." >> He was saying that? >> Yeah. The whole time I was begging him. >> Is that when this whole thing started? When you weren't getting the hours? >> I I guess so, yeah. >> You guess so? >> No, yeah. It was. >> So, you So, no, yeah. >> Yeah, I know. >> I know you. So, I'm just trying to get clarification. Because that would make sense. If you're not getting the hours that you're trying to, you're trying to make ends meet. >> Yeah. >> That makes sense. So, roughly, again, I don't need an exact date, roughly when did this start? >> Um months, a few months ago. >> Okay. So, I know I know I have records of accusations made from about that time frame. >> Yeah, and I literally just recently got like a full 40 hours. >> How recently? >> Um maybe maybe the past few months. >> Okay. >> I literally just started getting full 40-hour weeks. >> What month was it that the previous man Did he get fired or quit? >> Um he walked out on us because of a lot of stuff he was doing behind the scenes. >> Okay. >> So, basically he walked before he could get fired, and our owner was actually doing her own really sketchy stuff with him. That's why she never went after him is because they had their own >> relationship. >> No, um not not relationship like that. Um when it came to money and pay and >> Oh. >> Um stuff like that, they were doing both really sketchy things. So, she never went after him because she knew she couldn't because if she did, he [snorts] could just tell on her, too. So. >> About what month was that that he walked out? >> Um Um October, November? >> November? >> I think in November, around there. >> And then after he walked out, >> Um >> you then went from the 16 hours a week to getting more time? >> No, I get a 40. Yeah, a normal like full 40-hour week. >> And that that happened right after he left? >> Yeah, because I was the one covering his shifts. >> Okay. >> Him and his nephew both were working there, and he left and took his nephew. >> Okay. >> So, we lost two people. And I was the only one willing to do 16s. >> Okay. Um >> And I've been doing that since then. >> That's hard. I I So, I I recognize the difficulty of working 16-hour shifts. It is difficult. >> Yeah. >> So, I I can appreciate that. Um So, you lost two people, he and his nephew. >> Mhm. >> And you immediately started getting full 40 after that. >> Right, yeah. He actually walked out in the middle of my shift. Um and I was doing audit, like only overnight at the time. And he walked out in the middle of it. And he was actually the next shift to come in. Like, he was supposed to be the one to relieve me in the morning. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> So, I ended up staying and working a 16, and I I've just done it since. >> Okay. Um So, if if he left in November, about what month was it that you started using other people's credit card stuff to get by? >> I I don't know. Around Right around that time. >> Around that time. Okay. So, how would that work? Walk me through how that would work. >> I I don't know. I don't have an answer for that. >> What do you mean? I I I guess I don't understand what you mean you don't have an answer for that. >> I I don't know. >> Would you take a picture of their cards with your phone? Would you write the information down? Would you take it from the computer? >> No. >> So, how would that work? >> Um I I don't have an answer for it. >> Okay. Let me see if I can rephrase that then. You said it auto fills on your phone. Which I I we can both agree that it doesn't auto fill unless you manually enter it in there. >> Right. >> Correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. How would you store the information so that it does auto fill on your phone? >> think it it just it didn't auto fill. >> Okay. So, you manually manually put the information in there. You have to at least one at one point. You have to do something. It doesn't magically appear, correct? So, you either have to physically enter the information in by pressing the numbers on the phone, right? Or sometimes you can take a photo of it and it uploads it automatically to you. It just depends on what program or platform you're using, that kind of thing. So, those are two ways that you were getting that information or that that it was inputted into those devices. What I'm asking is while you were at work, how were you getting the information? >> I I just I don't have an answer. >> You don't have one or you just don't want to? >> I don't want to not at the moment. >> Okay, that's fine. I get it. I get it, Lexi. I can't force you to talk. By having an understanding of how and why this occurs, >> Mhm. >> it helps me relay that to the prosecutor because there is a bit of a misconception amongst the general public on how things work within law enforcement. People think that we are the ones who charge folks with crimes. We are not. We are the ones that gather the evidence and the understanding in what is happening in an incident. >> Mhm. >> We act on it and then we send it to the prosecutors whether they're in jail or not jail and then they read it and they're the ones responsible of putting those pieces together and then charging them with the appropriate crimes. If we mess up and forget something or don't do something. >> Mhm. >> So, what I'm trying to do is honestly help you as well so that they understand how deep this goes because we have well, I'm not going to tell you how many I know of. I'm going to let you tell me. How many different cards would you estimate that you've used in that time? >> I I don't know. >> You don't know? >> No. >> Would you have a guess? >> No. >> Okay. Describe some of the things that you purchased with those cards. >> Food. Um hygiene products. >> Mhm. >> Like clothes. I don't know. Daily life things like that are needed. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> The order to Walmart that was online that I'm aware of. Uh when you ordered things through Walmart, what kind of things were you buying? Online. >> Typically every time food. >> Food. Grocery items, right? >> Okay. >> Kitchen items. >> And why were you using the cards to buy food? Don't overthink it. Why were you using the cards to buy food? >> Well, like you already mentioned to get get by. >> Yeah. Did you have money of your own to be able to afford the food at that time? >> No. >> No. How come? >> I barely get hours and the money I make I it goes into rent or um like gas I have to pay to be, you know, dropped off at work. >> Yeah. >> Stuff like that. >> Okay. Um and I appreciate the honesty. I do. Cuz I truly believe that you were doing this to get by. Nothing that I have is saying, as I explained before, that this was something that you were doing to buy lavish, extraordinary things. >> Mhm. >> It's all relatively small that I'm aware of thus far. Um small purchases. Regardless if it's small or not, each one is a crime. >> Mhm. >> I hope you understand. So, each transaction that you do with somebody else's credit card is a crime. >> Mhm. >> Do you understand that? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I I don't know what your your boss is going to do as far as the job. I don't know if you're going to have a job or not. I had to inform him of the situation because he's the legal owner of the business and >> The one that came in? >> No. >> Oh. >> They don't know what's going on. >> going to say he he's No, he's not. >> Okay. >> Uh Rakesh. >> Yeah. >> Is that how you say that? I don't know how to say it. >> Yes. >> Ra- Rakesh. Um I spoke to him on the phone cuz I I do know that he is he is the owner. And I explained to him we need to find somebody to come in because you're using people's cards for personal gain without approval and that's obviously not okay. The reason I ask whether or not how you got this information is important to me. Because what I don't know whether you're doing I can't say if one way or the other is whether you're cloning the cards and you're making cards. >> I didn't even know that's a thing, honestly. >> It is. >> Okay. Yeah, I I didn't even know that. >> And they they have people in your positions all over that that have access to these things. Like they have access to people's credit cards by getting the information from them right at the time they check in, they need a card on file, so on and so forth. You have access to their name, their driver's license, their date of birth, their uh credit card number, everything you need to be involved in fraudulent schemes. Like significantly. Now, I'm not saying that's what you're doing. I truly I truly don't believe that. >> that was a thing. >> Sure, I understand. But what makes me concerned is the fact that you won't explain or you don't want to explain how you're getting this information and why. Cuz then it takes me back to my detective days and thinking, okay, she's part of something larger where you're giving this information to other people. >> Mhm. >> How are you getting it? Why are you taking it? Is just you? Is it other people? Are you pulling it from the internet? Are you pulling it from the records? Are you taking photos? Are you texting it to other people? >> Mhm. >> There's That's what I'm concerned with. >> Right. >> That's why I ask these questions. Because we have to be accountable for all that information. And you possess possess the other people's information that's detrimental to their lives that can ruin credit and everything else. >> Mhm. >> Canceling cards that they have, payments to the impact for you >> Mhm. >> on what you did also impacts them >> Mhm. >> in a negative way. So, it's my job to try to run down to what end this is going to impact them and how to help them as well while helping you and your kid. >> Mhm. >> Because ultimately it's the prosecutor that's going to read this and go, "Okay, was she cooperative? Was she not cooperative? Why did she do this? You know, >> [snorts] >> is she involved with somebody else?" That kind of thing. >> Mhm. >> So, if you can provide me a reason that you don't want to share that information, that's fine. If you just flat out don't, there's nothing else I can do about that. >> I just don't want to bring anybody else into it. >> I'm not saying that you have to bring anybody else into it. >> I don't know how it started though or >> I believe you. >> how it even came up in the first place cuz I never did it. It's not like I've done it my whole life. It came up with >> What? >> I believe you. >> Yeah. >> On that. You had to have learned this from someone. >> Right. >> Okay. So, if you don't want to provide that information, again I can't force you. >> Mhm. >> But if you know that it's actively still going on is that and that person is still employed there and this is actively going on? >> Um no, he he was the one that left. He was the manager that left. >> Okay. >> And that's why um I don't even know if her cousin knows that he was doing it. I do believe um Shika, the other owner. >> What is that Rakesh's wife or >> I think it's his daughter. >> Okay. >> it's his daughter. >> Okay. And what's her name? >> Shika. >> Shika. Okay. >> I do believe she knows, maybe not. But I do believe she knows that he was. But she never offered it because they were doing their own thing. >> Yeah. Okay. So I'm not going to ask for details about what he did. What I'm curious of again is how you got that information. So if you were getting that information from him, which I don't think you were because >> now. No. >> Yeah, not now because he wasn't here >> He got fired. >> Yeah, when when the instance that I'm aware of, he wasn't even employed anymore. [music] >> Right. >> So he had obviously taught you how to do this prior to him leaving so that you knew how. >> It wasn't like a a teaching me something. The way he was doing things I I had no idea the system. He has done the Opera system or worked with it for 15, 20 plus years, [clears throat] so he knows all the ins and outs and everything. I don't. >> Sure. >> Um he just he didn't ever show me that. I didn't care to know. I probably couldn't even wrap my head around it. It was >> You had a name for it. What was it called? Opera? Opera? >> like the name of the um the system the hotel runs. >> To have logged guests stuff all that. >> It's like booking reservations >> Oh. >> everything. >> Okay, and you don't deal with that. >> No, I I mean that's the system we use. >> Okay. >> I'm just saying he had like 15 or 20 years experience um operating it. So, he knew everything. Like things only a GM would know which is what he was. >> Okay. >> Like none of us have access to as far as he did. >> All right. And at some point you learned how to do this. >> It wasn't a learning thing. Like he never never told me the way he was doing it. He just he would just type it into the comments. >> Mhm. Type what into the comments? >> Information. >> Of Okay. Of the card. From the card. The information from the card in the comments field of the booking reservation. >> Right. >> So, then he would have access to that at a later time by looking at that information. >> Right. >> Am I getting that? >> Right. >> Were you picking up what I'm laying down? Okay. So, and you watched him do that. Right? So, then it's not like, "Hey, watch what I'm doing. I'm teaching you something. Wink wink." Was it something like that? >> No. I mean like I said, we became really good friends or at least I thought. >> Mhm. >> I thought like we we hung out together. Like we went to dinner together. We like had drinks together. I thought we were friends, but the whole time it's like he kind of just set me up to fail. >> Yeah. >> By that by I loaned him money which also didn't make sense to me cuz he was a GM. He was salary. I got two shifts a week at minimum wage. And then just everything else. It's like he wasn't my friend. >> No. No, and that's that's sad to hear. So, did you pick up what he was doing then and then realize that he was getting away with it and just thought you could, too? >> I I guess, yeah. >> Yeah. Cuz I mean I don't know who he is at this point. I mean, I can find out, but I don't I know that's not what you're trying to do, and I respect that. But at some point, you learn that process, and then you took over that that uh process as well, I guess you could say. Uh just entering the information in the comments field. Is that accurate? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Now, is that something you do with every customer? >> No. >> How would you select which customers to use? >> It It was random. >> Just It was random. >> Yeah. >> And did you have a process as >> [snorts] >> Cuz I think I know the answer to this, but how often would you use a card before you quit using it? >> I I don't [clears throat] know. >> When would you stop using a card that wasn't yours? >> I don't know. >> Okay. Do you understand what I'm asking? >> Well, yeah. >> Okay. >> [music] >> So, is that one that you just don't want to answer? Is that the I don't know? >> I just don't know when. >> Okay. Then let me rephrase that. Um If you had a card, say I check in, you write down my information in the comments field. I check in as a guest, I stay, I leave, a couple days goes by, you have my You You have access to my information, right? You wrote it down in the comments field, so you have my credit card and the the security code and the expiration date, my name, you have all the everything you need. And then you need groceries for you and the kiddo. I'm going to use this card. So, I'm I'm go to Walmart, and I'm going to buy food and groceries and hygiene stuff at Walmart. And I make a list, I go pick it up. And I need KFC. I'm going to go get some KFC. And then Domino's. Right? Like tonight we needed food, so you used card at Domino's. When How long would you keep using that card? Until it got deactivated? Until you got scared that it would get caught on? Where was the general rule of thumb for you, personally? >> There wasn't like a a general rule of thumb, no. >> No. Okay. And how many times would or how many cards do you think you did in total? >> I I don't know. >> Okay. Does anybody else have access to your phone? >> No. >> Is it password protected? >> Yes. >> It is. And what is the passcode for that? >> I don't want to give my passcode. >> Okay. I might I've got to ask. Cuz what's going to end up happening is I'll be seizing your cell phone. And I will be applying for a search warrant to get into the phone and to identify just how many cards you have on file in your >> [music] >> in your cell. So I I believe that you are being honest with me for most aspects, and I do appreciate that. And I understand your hesitation to speak about others. >> Mhm. >> I'm not here trying to jam you up to get anybody else in trouble. But if you know that this is occurring within that company, within your job, that other people in your position are also doing this? >> Well, he's not there anymore. >> Right, but I don't know if there's other people. That's why I said if there's other people. I know you mentioned that the previous GM >> Yeah. >> And are you aware of anybody else doing this that's currently there? >> No. >> No. Okay. Because that could help you if if you knew who those were, so we could come get that to stop as well. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Um I know you have It sounds like cuz when we were going through your bag looking for guns and what have you, it looked like you had Domino's cards in there. And I'm assuming tonight you ordered the Domino's. You ordered that online. Is that correct? Through an app? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Um This This is your time, like I said, you to speak your peace. To to tell me and the prosecutor and whoever else what's going on in your side of this story cuz there's always two sides. >> Mhm. >> And that's what I'm here to do is to get your side of things. And why. >> Mhm. >> And this is your time. >> Yeah, I don't know what else you Like, what are you wanting me to >> Is there anything else that you can think of that you you think I should know? >> [music] >> No. >> In the end, this case shows how quickly financial desperation can turn into a pattern of calculated decisions. Whatever her original circumstances may have been, the alleged misuse of customers financial information continued long enough to create a trail that investigators could follow. And perhaps the most important detail is what happened when investigators turned their attention to her phone. What may have seemed like a private device had potentially become one of the most important pieces of evidence in the entire investigation. That is the lesson many people miss. Digital convenience can work both ways. The same technology that makes it easy to store and use information can also preserve a detailed record of what happened. Once that information is connected to transactions, devices, and accounts, seemingly separate incidents can become part of one much larger picture. In the end, technology didn't make the alleged scheme disappear. It may have done the opposite. It helped create the digital trail that investigators could use to uncover it.