A man from Stone Mountain, Georgia, has been charged with stealing hundreds of dollars from a Sikeston, Missouri, business using a “quick change” scam. Dominique X. Ezell, 34, was charged through Scott County for the theft, which occurred on the night of January 17, 2025. The incident was reported on January 18 by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety (DPS) after surveillance footage was provided to law enforcement.
According to investigators, Ezell entered a local retail business and requested to exchange larger bills for smaller ones. He then employed a distraction tactic, engaging the cashier in conversation while continuously asking for the original larger bill back after receiving the smaller ones. This confused the cashier and allowed Ezell to take advantage of the situation, ultimately stealing money from the business.
The Sikeston DPS launched an investigation into the incident and received a description of the suspect. Officers learned that the Miner Police Department had arrested an individual matching that description in connection with a similar theft at a business in Miner, Missouri. Further investigation confirmed that the suspect was Ezell, who was subsequently linked to the Sikeston theft.
Ezell is now being held on a Scott County arrest warrant with a $1,000 cash bond. Authorities are urging any other businesses in the area that may have experienced similar incidents to contact their local law enforcement agencies to report the crimes.
The “quick change” scam, a common method of theft, relies on confusing the cashier during a currency exchange to steal money. Authorities are taking this incident seriously and have encouraged businesses to remain vigilant against such tactics in order to protect themselves from similar fraudulent activities.
