Two N.Y. man arrested in phony credit card scam

Vic Washington (Rochester Police photos)

Aaron Young

ROCHESTER - Two New York men were arrested on Thursday after police say they tried to buy merchandise at the Rochester Kohl’s using bogus credit cards only to use them a short time later to buy items at Lowe's.

Vic Washington, 44, of 203^rd St., Queens, and Aaron Young, 30, of 11137 203rd St., Saint Albans, Queens, were both charged with several counts of receiving stolen property and theft by deception, all felonies.

Young was also charged with felony forgery.

Rochester Police responded to Kohl’s around 8:15 p.m. after receiving a report that two males had just attempted to make a large purchase using a credit card that was declined and did not match up to the credit card that was handed to the clerk. The numbers scanned from the magnetic strip did not match the brand and numbers listed on the physical card.

After they left the store the pair was seen heading toward Lowes, according to a Rochester Police press release.

Police met up with the males as they were loading up a van with more than $1,000 worth of merchandise they had purchased from Lowes.

The two males were arrested and a search warrant was completed on their vehicle.

After speaking with the two men and executing the search warrant they were both charged with multiple charges involving the fraudulent use of credit cards and receiving stolen property in connection with the Lowes stolen merchandise purchased with the fraudulent cards.

Both were also charged with misdemeanor manufacture, sale, and possession of false identification. The phony IDs comprised bogus Indiana drivers’ licenses.

In addition, Washington was charged with possession of controlled/narcotic drugs, a misdemeanor.

Both men are being held at the Strafford County House of Correction on $5,000 cash bail pending their arraignment later today.