MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (August 18, 2026) - Two Michigan men were arrested and charged with fraud after allegedly using deceptive tactics to obtain nearly $5,000 in unauthorized funds from several Murfreesboro gas stations.

Eric Smith, 28, and Jerrell Clement, 43, both of Mount Morris, Michigan, reportedly entered multiple 7-Eleven and Speedway locations on Aug. 16 and 17, manipulating cashiers into loading $490 onto Propel gift cards while paying only $1 in cash. The remaining balances were never paid. Both suspects face charges of theft of property valued between $2,500 and $10,000.

Surveillance footage from the gas stations reportedly showed the same two men at each location, arriving and leaving in a dark blue Chrysler Pacifica. A crucial breakthrough in the investigation came when License Plate Reader (LPR) technology, utilized by Real Time Crime Center crime data analysts, identified the vehicle's Michigan license plate. Investigators determined the vehicle was registered to a rental car company. The vehicle was later located in Perrysburg, Ohio. SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS and DETAILS.

PHOTO ABOVE: Jerrell Clement, 43 and Eric Smith, 28, of Mount Morris, Michigan

Perrysburg police observed the suspects leaving a Waffle House and conducted a traffic stop. Smith and Clement were detained and positively identified as the individuals allegedly involved in the Murfreesboro fraud cases.

Smith and Clement are being held in Ohio while awaiting extradition to Rutherford County, where they will face the charges filed against them.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest or charge of an individual is not an indication of guilt.