Two Clearwater men are behind bars after police say they used fraudulent credit card information to buy four puppies from a Gulf-to-Bay pet store, sticking the owner with more than $11,000 in losses. The transactions took place during visits in late January and early February and only came to light when the shop started getting dispute letters from the credit card companies. Investigators have opened a felony theft case while they sort through the charges.
Clearwater police arrested Shacquille Deante Royal, 33, of Tampa, and Antuan Bernard Davis, 23, of Valrico, on Feb. 23, according to local arrest affidavits and booking records reported by Tampa Bay 28. Both men were booked on grand theft counts and remain in custody while the case moves forward.
Purchases And Reported Losses
According to arrest affidavits cited by investigators, the shopping spree unfolded at Sunshine Puppies Two. On Jan. 31, the suspects allegedly purchased a Yorkie and a French bulldog, then came back on Feb. 1 for a shih-poo and another French bulldog. The pet store later received dispute letters that led to chargebacks and a reported loss of $11,367.99, as detailed by IONTB.
How Investigators Say They Identified The Suspects
Detectives say a mix of surveillance footage, photo lineups and facial recognition checks connected the disputed puppy purchases to Royal and Davis. Store employees identified both men in photo arrays, and a Pasco County detective who had prior contact with one of the suspects helped confirm the IDs, according to Tampa Bay 28.
Related Pasco County Case And The Charges
Investigators also tied Royal to a Jan. 10 transaction at Velocity Golf Carts in Wesley Chapel, where a golf cart and battery bundle worth $16,536.40 was allegedly obtained without the owner’s permission, according to IONTB. Royal now faces charges of grand theft greater than $10,000 but less than $20,000 and scheme to defraud. Davis is charged with grand theft between $5,000 and $10,000. Under state law, both ranges are treated as grand theft and can carry prison time and fines under the Florida Statutes.
Buyer Caution And Local Context
Pinellas County Animal Services and consumer protection officials are using cases like this as a reminder for would-be pet owners to slow down before they swipe. They advise buyers to verify seller credentials, check vaccination records and confirm payment methods to avoid falling into similar scams. The county has previously issued consumer alerts about puppy-related fraud and how to spot common warning signs, according to Pinellas County Animal Services.
