North Carolina teen Jzaria Crank, previously found with an adult at age 14, was located in Florida during a traffic stop with a 37-year-old Charlotte man now facing multiple charges.
A North Carolina teen who previously made headlines on The North Carolina Beat after she was found with a grown man when she was just 14 years old in 2024, has once again been located with another adult male—this time during a traffic stop in Florida.
According to Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, 16-year-old Jzaria Crank, who had been reported missing out of North Carolina, was discovered late Tuesday evening during a traffic stop along South U.S. Highway 17 near Crescent City.
Deputy Chewning reportedly noticed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed before initiating the stop after pacing the car above the speed limit. When the deputy approached the vehicle, he encountered driver Joshua Magraff, 37, of Charlotte, North Carolina, along with a female passenger who immediately raised red flags.
Authorities say the teen initially provided deputies with false information about her identity and date of birth. At one point she claimed to have been born in 2013—an age that would have made her just 12 years old. Deputies say she then gave two additional fake names and birth dates, prompting concerns about her welfare.
Because of the inconsistencies, the deputy placed the juvenile in his patrol vehicle. It was there that she finally revealed her real identity—Jzaria Crank, a North Carolina teen who had been reported missing roughly a month earlier.
Deputies quickly contacted her mother, who confirmed that she had reported her daughter missing on February 16 and stated she did not know Magraff.
Man’s Story Kept Changing
Investigators say Magraff’s explanation for why he was traveling with the teen changed several times during questioning.
At first, he reportedly claimed the girl was his 16-year-old cousin. When deputies pressed him further, Magraff changed his story again, saying she was simply a friend.
Later, he allegedly told deputies that he believed the teen was 19 years old.
When asked why the two were in Florida together, Magraff told deputies he had traveled to the state to play gambling games.
Counterfeit Money and Drugs Found
During a search of the vehicle, deputies reportedly uncovered several illegal items including:
19 counterfeit $100 bills
Synthetic marijuana
Marijuana
Drug paraphernalia
Authorities say the discovery only deepened concerns about the circumstances surrounding the teen.
Arrest Made
Magraff was arrested and charged with:
Interference with child custody
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
Possession of synthetic marijuana
Possession of counterfeit currency
Possession of drug paraphernalia
He was transported to the Putnam County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $9,000 bond.
Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the teen until arrangements could be made for her to be reunited with her mother.
This Isn’t the First Time
This latest incident comes after The North Carolina Beat previously reported on Jzaria Crank in November 2024, when she was just 14 years old and allegedly found with a 34-year-old man outside the Bella Vista Apartments in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Missing 14-Year-Old Gastonia Girl Found was reportedly with 34-Year-Old Man, Mother Confronts Alleged “Uncle” on LIVE
In a video sent to us at the time, her mother—who goes by “Lexz DaGoat” on social media—could be heard confronting the man while expressing frustration over her daughter’s disappearance.
“Somebody done seen this shit. This shit been all over… somebody done seen this shit,” the mother said in the video, referencing how widely the teen’s disappearance had circulated online.
She then demanded answers from the man.
“Why didn’t you call the police if you know this little girl underage?” she asked.
The man responded at the time that he did not know the teen’s age.
Authorities say the investigation remains active and additional details may be released as investigators continue looking into the circumstances surrounding the case.
