Florida's Antoinette Bannister charged with credit card theft and fraud

In troubling news out of Gainesville, Florida, Antoinette Bannister -- a member of the Gators women's basketball team -- was arrested and charged for stealing and using a teammates credit card. The teammate's credit card that was stolen was redshirt freshman Viktorija Dimaite.

Here's an excerpt from The Gainsville Sun who first reported this news:

A University of Florida women’s basketball player was arrested Friday afternoon on allegations she stole the credit card of a teammate and used it at several stores, a nail salon and a pawn shop, according to an arrest report.

Enlarge

Antoinette Alyssa Bannister, 21, was charged with theft of a credit card and fraudulent use of a credit card, an arrest report by the University Police Department states. The report identifies Bannister as a member of the women’s basketball team.

Listed as the victim was Bannister’s teammate, Viktorija Dimaite. The report states that Dimaite’s credit card was taken without her permission on Jan. 11 from the women’s locker room of the basketball practice facility. The locker room is secured by a key code known only to the team, coaches and janitorial staff.

The card was used at Macy’s and Modern Nails and Spa at The Oaks Mall on Monday, police said. It was used on Tuesday at Hibbett Sports at Butler Plaza, Footlocker at the Oaks Mall and Gold Standard West pawn shop on Southwest 34th Street.

Receipts from Hibbett Sports and Gold Standard Pawn were signed "Antoinette Bannister," police reported. A sign-up sheet at the salon was signed "Antoinette."

"Surveillance video from Hibbett Sports for the specific fraudulent transaction revealed the defendant making the purchase with the stolen card," the report states.

Bannister admitted to police on Friday that she used the card. And according to this report by the Alligator - the student newspaper, she is no longer a member of the Florida basketball team.

This is second time, in the past year, that something egregious like this has happened with the Gators' basketball program. Last year on January 14, starting forward Christin Mercer was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. She then left the team and is now enrolled at Jacksonville University.