Police say a night of barhopping in downtown Nashville turned into a financial headache for several men, after a local woman allegedly spiked their drinks, stole their phones, and then went shopping with their money.
A 43-year-old Nashville woman was arrested this week and charged in connection with a string of incidents that investigators say stretches back to at least June 23, 2024. Detectives report that new leads, including a phone one victim tracked to a device recycling kiosk on Dickerson Pike, helped them file charges this month. The arrest follows what authorities describe as a multi-agency probe into similar reports of victims waking up disoriented after nights out downtown with their phones, wallets, or cards missing.
Metro detectives have identified 43-year-old Erica Williams as a suspect in the investigation, accusing her of drugging a man in downtown Nashville and stealing his cell phone and wallet, according to WKRN. Court documents reviewed by the station state the victim blacked out the previous evening and later woke up in a vehicle at an unknown gas station with his belongings gone. He then tracked his missing phone to a kiosk at a store on Dickerson Pike.
Detectives say surveillance and other evidence tie Williams to the case. Investigators report she was seen driving a Lexus SC430 around 8 a.m. near the kiosk and was also spotted during CMA Fest 2024, details they say link her to the phone transactions. Williams was booked into the Metro jail and faces multiple felony counts, including theft of property between $10,000 and $60,000, computer fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft.
How Investigators Say A Tracked Phone Cracked The Case
Police say the victim used phone tracking tools to zero in on his device at the recycling kiosk. That digital trail led detectives to two women who had sold phones there, and investigators allege Williams was one of them. The setup, authorities say, looks a lot like other reported schemes in nightlife hotspots where suspects allegedly offer rides or drinks, then victims later notice their phones or cards are gone, and their accounts are suddenly busy.
Local reporting on a similar suspected ring in 2022 described a woman allegedly posing as a rideshare driver, offering water to male passengers who later discovered large fraudulent purchases on their accounts. At the time, police urged riders to double-check vehicle details and share trip information with friends, according to WSMV.
Charges, Bond, and What Comes Next
Metro police say Williams’ bond was set at $377,000 and that the investigation remains active as prosecutors evaluate formal filings, WKRN reports. No court appearance schedule or defense statement has been made public so far, and Williams is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty in court.
The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about drink spiking and theft in Nashville’s entertainment districts as tourists and locals pack the honky-tonks and late-night bars downtown. Police and safety advocates continue to stress basic precautions, including keeping drinks in sight, sticking with trusted friends, and verifying rideshare details before getting into any vehicle.
