Investigators are also examining related financial activity, including transaction location history, merchant patterns, and any unusual spending behavior in the days surrounding the purchase. Digital forensic teams are coordinating with financial institutions to confirm the physical point-of-sale authentication method used — including chip verification, PIN entry, or signature capture — to determine the likelihood of in-person usage.
Sources familiar with the investigation indicate that the individual linked to the card has some form of indirect connection to the broader circle of persons previously examined in the case. Authorities caution, however, that a financial transaction alone does not establish involvement in a criminal act. Detectives are cross-referencing the purchase timestamp with cell phone location data, vehicle movements, and surveillance feeds from adjacent retail properties.
