07:01 PM CST on Friday, January 13, 2006

By Carolyn Campbell / 11 News

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A Fort Bend County couple is in jail Friday, accused of credit card fraud.

Investigators say the couple illegally charged more than $300,000.

Police today confiscated merchandise from their home on Maybrook Park Court.

KHOU-TV

Terriann Carlson of the Ft. Bend County Sheriff's Department.

It almost seems like moving day as, piece by piece, all of the contents of the Katy-area home are being removed.

Ft. Bend County prisoners provided the labor because the homeowners are in custody.

In happier times, 43-year old Oluwole Ayaji Gabriel and 36-year old Marian Bolly Folarin looked every bit the successful couple.

After being charged with conspiracy to commit felony theft, they look a lot different.

Ft. Bend County Sheriff's investigators say the couple was acquiring merchandise and cash by using identity theft.

"These two suspects were obtaining names and social security numbers from some victims and these social security cards were issued within last 10 to 15 years," said Ft. Bend sheriff's office Terriann Carlson.

Once they got the Social Security numbers, investigators say the suspects would sometimes change the numbers, add different names, then apply for credit.

"And once they got credit cards, they get cash advances," Carlson said.

The suspects allegedly took about $300,000 in cash and merchandise.

Neighbors who watched the family's belongings being confiscated were surprised.

"It's really disappointing, hopefully it's not true," said Scott Burdge.

The couple also has four children who have been placed with relatives.

"I just didn't know what to think. I've seen their four boys and they're just precious. I was just shocked," said neighbor Laura Kubala.

But their troubles don't end with Ft. Bend County. Because the suspects had the credit cards sent to postal boxes in Texas and other states, the U.S. Postal Service is investigating.

And since they are Nigerian nationals, the sheriff's department says the couple could also face deportation.