Speeding stop in Clearwater ends in Hillsborough woman's 64th arrest

CLEARWATER — Joyce T. Ray has more than 30 aliases and has been arrested 63 times since 1982, according to law enforcement records.

Ray's 64th arrest came Tuesday night after Clearwater police pulled her over for speeding and found her with stolen credit cards, authorities say.

The 44-year-old Hillsborough County woman was charged with grand theft, scheme to defraud, burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The latter charge was made when police say they found a 16-year-old in her car holding a beer. Ray and the teenager said Ray handed the teen the beer as she was pulled over.

According to Clearwater police, Ray went into an employee area of David's Bridal at 2637 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. at about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday and stole 10 credit cards and a $40 Carrabba's Italian Grill gift card from an employee's purse.

Ray then charged more than $3,000 for gift cards and clothing, some of which were in the trunk of the 2008 Dodge Charger she was driving, police said.

Clearwater police say they pulled Ray over for going 79 mph in a 45 mph zone. Detectives say they are investigating other cases that may involve Ray, who lives at 5504 Blue Jay Lane near Tampa.

The 16-year-old, who was not named but is not related to Ray, was released to her family. Ray was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on $25,500 bail.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show Ray has been arrested on a variety of charges in the past 27 years. She has been incarcerated eight times in Florida, and was released in February after being convicted of organized fraud.