Investigators say the men used stolen financial details to seek loans after starting applications online.
GALLATIN, TN — Three men were arrested after a police sting in Gallatin on Dec. 30 that targeted an identity-theft scheme tied to fraudulent loan applications at local finance offices, authorities said Tuesday.
Police said the group is accused of using stolen personal and financial information from at least two Middle Tennessee residents to create fake identifications and pursue loans worth thousands of dollars. The sting unfolded as officers monitored a financial office where one suspect arrived believing he would finish a loan interview. The case remains under investigation, and officials said they are examining where the victims’ information was taken and whether others were targeted in the region.
According to police, Kyle Griffin, 29, and Derrick Matthews Jr., 30, both from Georgia, were taken into custody outside the business as officers moved in on the operation. Inside, officers arrested 30-year-old Treyquan Thomas of Florida while he believed he was finalizing a loan application tied to a local victim’s identity. Investigators said the men began loan applications online before traveling to Sumner County, then planned to present fake identification cards in person. Officers reported that Thomas had the victim’s name and financial details written on his hand and stored on his phone during the appointment, a detail investigators said underscored how the group tracked which victim identity to use.
Authorities said the trio tried to obtain loans in both Lebanon and Gallatin but did not succeed there. Before arriving in Sumner County, investigators believe the suspects secured thousands of dollars from a Nashville-area loan company using forged documents and stolen identifiers. The Gallatin operation was organized after detectives traced applications to local addresses and coordinated a controlled encounter at the finance office. Officers said the plan focused on taking the suspects into custody at the point when they presented identification, which is when investigators could seize the cards, the phones they used to store notes, and any documents connected to the online applications.
Police identified the initial Middle Tennessee victims as local residents, but their names were not released. Detectives said they are still determining how the suspects obtained the victims’ Social Security and account information. The men allegedly used the details to start loan requests on the internet, then scheduled in-person meetings under those identities to complete approvals. Investigators reported recovering fake identification cards and digital notes listing victims’ personal and banking data. They also noted that loan applications were submitted to multiple companies, suggesting the group tested more than one lender as part of the same plan. It is not yet known how many total applications were attempted or how many lenders received inquiries from the same identifiers.
Griffin, Matthews and Thomas were booked into the Sumner County Jail on identity theft, conspiracy to commit identity theft, and theft charges, police said. Bond information was not immediately available. The men are accused of targeting local finance businesses rather than banks, a tactic investigators said can mirror other schemes in which fraud crews apply for smaller, fast-turnaround loans to cash out quickly. Police said evidence gathered in Gallatin would be shared with investigators in Nashville in connection with the earlier loan payout and with agencies in neighboring jurisdictions where applications may have been filed.
Records show similar identity-based loan attempts have surfaced elsewhere in Middle Tennessee over recent years, with suspects traveling from out of state and using fake IDs assembled with stolen data. In those cases, police said loan seekers frequently begin the process online to generate an appointment, then present forged cards at a storefront to finalize funding. Detectives in Gallatin said the Dec. 30 operation followed that pattern, leading them to stage surveillance at the business and coordinate the timing of the arrests. Officials said it was unusual to find a suspect with a victim’s financial details written on a hand at the time of an interview, a detail investigators said made the impersonation effort clear.
Authorities did not release a court date. In the coming days, the case is expected to proceed in Sumner County General Sessions Court while detectives continue conducting forensic reviews of the phones and documents seized during the arrests. Investigators said they plan to follow up with loan companies in Nashville, Lebanon and Gallatin to collect application records, video and any audio from interviews. Police said they are also tracing the route the suspects took from Georgia and Florida, including hotel stays and vehicle rentals, to determine whether other stops were made to pursue additional applications before the sting.
On Tuesday, the department said it is still working to identify the full number of potential victims connected to the recovered identifiers. Officers described the finance office as a typical retail-style storefront, with investigators positioned nearby when the suspects arrived. Employees remained inside as police made the arrests; no injuries were reported. A passerby described seeing officers move toward two men outside while another was led out in handcuffs a few minutes later. “It was quiet and quick,” the bystander said, adding that customers were allowed to leave the area after statements were taken.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the three men remained in custody while detectives coordinated with other agencies on related loan applications. Officials said the next update is expected after the initial court appearances and results of the device searches.
Author note: Last updated January 6, 2026.