South African national charged in North Texas gym identity theft scheme
Federal complaint alleges yearslong fraud targeting gym patrons across the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 28, 2026, 6:35 p.m. ET
A South African national with a history of fraud and identity-related offenses has been in a federal complaint with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas announced Aug. 28.
Craig George McLachlan, who used aliases including "Craig Pritchard," "Clive Morgan Pritchard," "Jeffrey Moore," "Joseph Robert Almond," "John Paul Loisel," and "Francis Castanho," is accused of stealing wallets and credit cards from gym patrons across North Texas and using the cards for fraudulent purchases, according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges McLachlan stole credit cards from unlocked lockers or unattended bags at gyms including YMCA locations, Texas Family Fitness, Summit Climbing Gym, Lifetime Fitness, Impact Fitness, and Club 4 Fitness, and made fraudulent transactions at retailers such as Whole Foods, Best Buy, REI, Trader Joe's, Spec's, Central Market, and Home Depot. In one instance, on Jan. 10, he allegedly used an alias to obtain a day pass at Club 4 Fitness in Grapevine and then stole a victim's credit cards, charging more than $1,500.
McLachlan was taken into custody on Feb. 5 after Grapevine Police located him in Dallas. He has prior federal convictions for illegal reentry, firearms offenses, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft, and remains illegally present in the United States with an outstanding deportation order, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations – Dallas Field Office with support from multiple partner agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Chen is prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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