October 20, 2009
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News: CC Fraud; How Do They Do It? 19
Las Vegas Police are investigating one of their own for credit card fraud. Benjamin Miles Cordova, who was recently fired, allegedly stole one of the police department's credit cards from another officer's assigned patrol car. Cordova was caught on surveillance tape on three separate occasions using the stolen card to purchase gas for his Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. Clark County District Attorney's Office is also conducting a criminal investigation in addition to the police department's personal investigation. Cordova has been charged with six felonies; three counts of credit card fraud and three counts of receiving property obtained by unlawful use of a card. Additionally, Cordorva faces additional charges for driving on an expired licensed. Further details have not been released in view of the ongoing investigation.
While seeking medical assistance, an Oregon couple preyed on healthcare workers by stealing credit cards out of staff wallets. Troy Robanski, who has a previous criminal record and Shelley Lee Davis have both been charged with the crimes which involved both the Providence Portland Medical Center and North Portland's Kaiser Interstate Medical Office. Investigators were able to connect the two to the missing credit cards through surveillance video from the Fred Meyer stores where the two had used the stolen cards and the hospital's own surveillance tapes. When police searched the two's apartment, they discovered several of the item purchased with the stolen cards as well as a map with Portland's hospitals marked off. Robanske pleaded guilty to the crimes and has been sentenced to over four years in prison. Davis faces charges of forgery, first-degree theft, and identity theft for which she has pleaded not-guilty. A trial date was not released.
A Houston couple has been charged with conspiracy, manufacturing fake military identification cards, and credit card fraud. Amber Schneider and Todd Neuwirth scammed bank employees to the tone of $145,000 in cash advances by using the fake id's matched up to unauthorized cards. The names of several other individuals also involved in the scam have not been released. Both Schneider and Neuwirth face up to 15 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.