Wauwatosa West Student Charged With Stolen Debit Card Shopping Spree

A 17-year-old student is facing multiple charges after he allegedly stole a classmate’s debit card, then used it to buy $1,400 in goods from area stores.

Job Devonte Ellis, of Milwaukee, was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Saturday with three counts of theft. If convicted, he faces up to 27 months in prison and $30,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On May 16, a West student went to the to report his debit card had been stolen from school. He said the card had been in his wallet in a pair of pants above a locker during gym class, and he suspected the card was taken then.

The victim told police he suspected Ellis in the theft because he invited him to hang out with friends a few days prior, and Ellis was in a car where the victim needed to get cash and told the driver his PIN number at a drive-thru ATM.

He said other classmates also noticed Ellis left school early on the day of the theft.

Investigators discovered between 11:45 a.m. and 1:54 p.m. the card was used twice at an ATM, with only one of the transactions being successful. It was also used once at for a $359 purchase; twice at for a $206 total purchase; once at for a $509 purchase; and once at Pak’s Jewelers for a $328 purchase.

Surveillance footage of the purchases showed Ellis buying the goods. He admitted to the theft to police, saying he took the debit card because “it was easy.”

He’s currently free on a $200 signature bond while awaiting trial.