2 more from N.Y. nabbed in another credit card scam

Deval Rhodes (Rochester Police photos)

Louis DJeffry

ROCHESTER - Police say the arrest of two New York men at the Lilac Mall on Monday night in an alleged credit card scam is likely connected to a similar credit card incident last week at Rochester Crossing that also resulted in the arrest of two men from the Big Apple, and that the men arrested last night had in their possession more than $9,000 worth of gift cards believed to have been purchased using fraudulently obtained credit cards.

Deval Rhodes, 22, of Elmont, N.Y., was charged with forgery and possession of controlled drugs/marijuana; and Louis DJeffry, 20, of 245 New York City, was charged with driving after revocation, transport of marijuana and cocaine possession after Rochester Police caught up with the pair at Pet Paradise.

Police first responded to the Lilac Mall Hannaford’s around 7 p.m. after a manager told them two males had bought $400 in gift cards, then returned moments later and tried to buy another $800 in gift cards, but that the credit card was declined.

After canvassing several stores at the Lilac Mall, police tracked them to Pet Paradise where they were interviewed and later arrested.

Louis and Rhodes were in possession of more than 100 activated gift cards worth more than $9,000, which were purchased over the past two days in Rochester and other surrounding towns, according to a Rochester Police press release. The gift cards included Visa, MasterCard, American Express as well as store credit cards from Home Depot and other area stores.
“It is believed that these cards were being purchased fraudulently utilizing other gift cards and fraudulently obtained credit cards,” Rochester Police Sgt. Anthony Deluca said in the press release.

Rhodes was charged with forgery due to the fact that he allegedly signed a false name to a credit card promissory note at the Rochester CVS on North Main Street.

Rhodes and DJeffry were both held on $10,000 cash bail pending an arraignment today in Rochester District Court.

It was just last Thursday that two other New York men were arrested at the Rochester Crossing in another credit card scam.

Those two men, Vic Washington, 44, of 203^rd St., Queens, and Aaron Young, 30, of 11137 203rd St., Saint Albans, Queens, are both being held on $250,000 cash bail pending a probable cause hearing.

Deluca said police believe the two incidents are related.

Anyone having further information about this crime is asked to contact the Rochester Police Department at 330-7128