Police say a Houston man turned gym locker rooms into his personal hunting ground, swiping wallets and credit cards, then running up fraudulent tabs at H‑E‑B stores all over the Upper Gulf Coast. Investigators identified the suspect as Azeez Adigun Aweda and say the case stretches across several cities and months as they trace unauthorized transactions and work to identify additional victims.
Arrest and booking
Pearland detectives say Aweda was arrested earlier this year and booked into jail on Jan. 9, 2026, on charges that include fraudulent use or possession of credit or debit card information and burglary of vehicles. Public booking records list the Pearland Police Department as the arresting agency and include a booking number, according to TexArrest.
Investigation and evidence
According to Pearland police, a seven month investigation that relied on surveillance footage and transaction records connected Aweda to thefts at LA Fitness and EOS Fitness locations and to unauthorized purchases at H‑E‑B stores in Pearland, League City, Spring, Pasadena, Webster and Houston. Investigators say they recovered 24 credit cards tied to nine victims and allege Aweda used disguises, including swapping outfits, wearing masks and faking a limp, while targeting gym lockers, according to MyTexasDaily.
League City officers, during a related traffic stop, reportedly found multiple stolen credit and gift cards, pieces of mail, bolt cutters and a magnetic stripe card reader, items police say are tied to the broader fraud investigation.
Charges and penalties
Pearland police described the primary offense under investigation as fraudulent use or possession of credit or debit card information, governed by Texas Penal Code §32.51. Under state law, possessing or using 10 to 49 items of identifying information is classified as a second degree felony. The punishment range for a second degree felony is two to 20 years in prison, along with an optional fine of up to $10,000, per Texas Penal Code §12.33. Prosecutors will decide which specific counts to file as the case moves through the court system.
Police seek additional victims
Pearland police are asking anyone who used LA Fitness or EOS Fitness locations in Pearland or Houston between October 2025 and April 2026 and later saw unauthorized H‑E‑B purchases on their accounts to contact the department’s Criminal Investigations tip line at 281-997-4211, according to MyTexasDaily. Officials publicly thanked League City police for assisting in the case and urged potential victims to hang onto receipts, bank or card statements and any surveillance footage that might show unauthorized use.
How victims can protect themselves
If you suspect your card has been stolen or used without permission, authorities urge you to contact your card issuer right away to cancel the affected cards and then file a report through IdentityTheft.gov. Freezing your credit, keeping detailed records of any fraudulent charges and filing a police report can help speed up refunds and make it easier for investigators to connect related cases.
