Crime & Safety

Two Men Accused Of Using Fraudulent Credit Cards To Swindle Stores in Beachwood, Mayfield

According to the US Attorney's Office, the suspects had 55 fraudulently obtained credit cards

A grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging two men with crimes related to their possession of about 55 fraudulently obtained credit cards that they used to purchase more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from various stores at Beachwood Place Mall and Golden Gate shopping plazas, said Steven M. Dettelbach, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

“These men are accused of going on a shopping spree with fake credit cards,” Dettelbach said. “We all pay the price when people engage in theft like this and this office will work with our partners to stamp out credit card fraud.”

James Gibson of Orlando, FL, and Lansford Beuns of Newport News, VA, were indicted on counts of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, use of unauthorized access devices, possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices and possession of device-making equipment.

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The indictment charges that in December 2012, Gibson and Beuns possessed about 55 counterfeit access devices -- to wit, credit cards -- upon which fraudulently acquired account information had been re-encoded and embossed using an encoder and an embosser in their possession.

The indictment further charges that Gibson and Beuns used the counterfeit access devices and unauthorized access devices to purchase thousands of dollars of merchandise from various merchants in Mayfield Heights and Beachwood.

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Among the purchases identified in the indictment, which all took place on Dec. 1 or Dec. 2, 2012, are:

  • Abercrombie and Fitch, 26300 Cedar Road, $258.
  • The Buckle, 26300 Cedar Road, $336.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue, 26300 Cedar Road, $1,729.
  • True Religion Jeans, 26300 Cedar Road, $623.
  • Best Buy, 1417 Golden Gate Boulevard, $3,027.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Sweeney, following an investigation by the United States Secret Service.


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