Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Police said a man with an active violent felony warrant out of Illinois managed to evade authorities for years by living under his brother’s identity until his methods were unraveled at a Jonesboro Department of Human Services (DHS) office.
The investigation began on Feb. 16 when Jonesboro police met with 35-year-old Martez Lashun Thomas. Thomas had been granted temporary custody of his girlfriend’s children following her arrest. Per department policy, officers conducted a mandatory criminal history check.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Thomas provided officers with his brother’s name and date of birth. However, police uncovered his true identity, which revealed an active violent felony warrant out of Illinois.
Three days later, on Feb. 19, Arkansas DHS notified Jonesboro police that Thomas was scheduled to appear at their office to surrender the children. When Thomas signed the official court paperwork using his brother’s name, officers stepped in and arrested him.
Subsequent investigation revealed this wasn’t Thomas’s first time using the alias in an attempt to trick local authorities. Records showed he had assumed his brother’s identity in at least two prior incidents:
- July 12, 2024: Thomas provided his brother’s name and date of birth during a traffic stop arrest in Jonesboro and was booked into the Craighead County Detention Center. A comparison of the 2024 booking photo confirmed Thomas was the suspect.
- April 30, 2025: Thomas appeared in Craighead County District Court, where he signed legal documents and established a payment plan under his brother’s identity.
Thomas appeared before Circuit Judge Charles Mooney on Feb. 20. The judge found probable cause to charge him with two counts of second-degree forgery (Class C felony) and one count of obstructing governmental operations/refusal to provide information (Class C misdemeanor).
If convicted, Thomas faces up to 10 years in prison and $10,500 in fines. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 23.
