As police continued their search for Brian Laundrie, boyfriend of slain woman Gabby Petito, a federal grand jury indictment has accused Laundrie of bank card fraud.
The indictment was filed in U.S. District Court in Wyoming. It alleged Laundrie used a Capital One Bank card and someone’s personal identification number to make unauthorized withdrawals or charges worth more than $1,000.
According to the indictment, the unauthorized use of the debit card occurred from about Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. That Sept. 1 date is when Laundrie showed back up in North Port, Florida after he and Petito began a cross country road trip in July.
FBI spokeswoman Courtney Bernal declined to reveal the nature of the charges made. The indictment does not say who owned the card Laundrie used.
Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino said it is his understanding the indictment was related to activities that occurred after Petito’s death and therefore was not related to said death.
“The FBI is focused on locating Brian and when that occurs the specifics of the charges covered under the indictment will be addressed in the proper forum,” Bertolino said in a text message to The Associated Press.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said an arrest warrant issued related to the indictment would allow law enforcement across the country to continue pursuing Laundrie.
Back in North Port, Friday marked six days of searching for Laundrie since Petito’s body was discovered Sunday along the border of Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming. The video above shows some of Thursday’s search.
The search, as it has all week, has been centered around the Carlton Reserve. Officials have said Laundrie told his parents he was going there a few days after returning from the road trip.
FBI and police have been deluged with tips about possible Laundrie sightings. Officials urged anyone with knowledge of Laundrie’s role in Petito’s death or his whereabouts to contact the FBI.
“No piece of information is too small or inconsequential to support our efforts in this investigation,” Schneider said in a statement.