FBI called in to assist with credit card scam probes

Djeffry Louis

Deval Rhodes

ROCHESTER - Rochester Police have enlisted the help of the FBI in two bogus credit card scams attempted by men from the New York City area in the past week in Rochester.

The latest arrests were made on Monday night after two men allegedly tried to buy gift cards at various Lilac Mall businesses using fraudulently obtained credit cards.

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

Police were tipped off about the duo after a Hannaford’s employee reported two men had bought $400 worth of gift cards, then returned moments later and tried to buy another $800 in gift cards, but that the second credit card was declined.

The men had been to several stores in the Lilac Mall before being found by police, who on Tuesday at the pair’s arraignment said they had 125 gift cards in their possession between the two of them and that 30 had been used.

Because they were deemed flight risks due to lengthy arrest records and having no ties to New Hampshire, their $10,000 cash bail was upped to $50,000, with a Nebbia hearing ordered if they do come up with the bail to determine the funding source.

Rhodes is facing several charges in New York, including an April arrest for promoting prostitution and a December arrest on marijuana charges.

Louis, meanwhile, faces charges in the Big Apple from a September arrest in which he was charged with 26 counts of forgery, ID theft and forged instruments.

The two men face a probable cause hearing later this month.

Rochester Police Capt. Paul Toussaint said on Tuesday that Rochester Police are aware of similar bogus credit card scams attempted in other New Hampshire communities, including Exeter and Dover. He said the FBI was called in due to the interstate trafficking of fraudulently obtained credit cards.

Toussaint said the incidents are likely connected in some way but police are not yet fully aware of the scope and nature of that connection, adding the investigation is extremely fluid at this time.

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, and Aaron Young, 30, both of Queens, are being held on $250,000 cash bail pending a probable cause hearing.

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