Burns Flat Woman Accused of Stolen Identity

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August 23, 2024

In a case of mistaken identity, a woman tried to claim a jackpot that wasn’t hers, leading to her arrest. According to court records, 41-year-old Bonnie Renee Bookout from Burns Flat faces serious charges after allegedly using someone else’s identity to cash in at the Clinton Lucky Star Casino.

A probable cause affidavit showed that on July 19, Clinton police responded to a call at the casino regarding suspicious activity. Officers discovered that Bookout had allegedly used another woman’s driver’s license and Social Security card to claim a jackpot. She also allegedly signed a W-9 Tax Form with the stolen information, but staff caught on when she tried to alter her signature to match the original winner’s name.

Further investigation revealed that Bookout had attempted the same scheme a week earlier at the same casino. It was also discovered that she had been previously banned from the Lucky Star Casino.

When questioned, Bookout claimed she had permission from the actual identity owner to use her information. However, a phone call to the supposed owner proved otherwise, leading to Bookout’s arrest on two counts of false impersonation and two counts of forgery.