Credit card fraud arrests could be tip of iceberg

Washington

Young

ROCHESTER - The two New York men arraigned on a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges after hitting two Rochester stores up using bogus credit cards this week are part of an elaborate credit card fraud theft ring, obtaining many of those card numbers using night cameras to capture people’s credit card numbers as they checked into a New Jersey hotel, according to prosecutors and police.

Prosecutors also alleged that the pair had at least one video stored on a cell phone that showed them in possession of vast sums of cash.

Vic Washington, 44, of 203^rd St., Queens was charged with felony conspiracy to commit theft, felony theft by deception, four felony charges of receiving stolen property, manufacture, sale and possession of false identification, a misdemeanor; and misdemeanor possession of controlled/narcotic drugs.

Aaron Young, 30, of 11137 203rd St., Saint Albans, Queens, was charged with several misdemeanor receiving stolen property charges as well as misdemeanor theft by deception, felony forgery and misdemeanor manufacture, sale and possession of false identification.

The two men are alleged to have entered Kohl’s on Thursday night and tried to use a bogus credit card to purchase items. When the clerk swiped the card, the rejection came from a credit card provider other than the one named on the card, prosecutors said, adding that the numbers on the magnetic strip on back of the card didn’t match the ones on the front. After the pair left Kohl’s, store managers contacted Rochester Police, who met up with them as they were leaving Lowe’s after purchasing several items using one of the bad cards.

Rochester Police arrested the pair and also confiscated “many” fraudulent credit cards and phony Indiana driver’s licenses as well.

Rochester Police Sgt. Anthony Deluca characterized the operation as “big” and said the investigation is ongoing.

The night camera equipment used to capture victims’ card number and passwords at the New Jersey hotel and the video led authorities to suspect the pair may have access to large sums of money, so a Nebbia hearing to verify the origin of any funds used to pay their bail will be scheduled if they raise the money. Bail, which was set at $10,000 cash after their arrest on Thursday, was upped to $250,000 cash on Friday.

Both Young and Washington have significant criminal histories, including theft and forgery convictions.