Diaspora News of Monday, 4 January 2016

Source: Warwick Post

WPD Arests Man from Cameroon for Buying Gift Cards With Fake Credit Card

Warwick Police were called to the Food Court at the Warwick Mall at 400 Bald Hill Road Dec. 8 at 6:27 p.m. for reports of a man buying gift cards from Subway, JC Penny and Foot Locker using a stolen credit card, arresting him on credit card fraud and obstructing an officer.

Three policemen showed at the scene: Officers Mithell Voyer, Matthew Higgins, and Lt. Mark Ullucci. Ullucci located a man matching the description provided by loss prevention employees from the stores. The man, later identified as Linus Seino, 20, of 6509 96th Ave., Lenham, MD, gave Ullucci a false name and told him he didn’t have any ID on him. Seino did have many gift cards in his hand along with his wallet, according to Voyer’s report.

When asked what he was doing with the gift cards, Seino became very nervous and admitted that he’d bought them with a fake credit card, according to the report. The dispatcher told Ullucci they were unable to locate anyone by the name Seino had given him.

The officers pressed Seino about his real name, and he gave them multiple names and dates of birth. The officers arrested him, and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he was fingerprinted for an accurate ID. Seino gave his real name.

In Seino’s possession, the officers found three Old Navy gift cards worth a total of $1,300, and two Subway gift cards, along with three Visa credit cards bearing the false identity Seino had originally provided. After obtaining a warrant to search Seino’s car, a rental obtained under his alias, officers found a reciept for $900 from Red Robin, and a $200 Red Robin gift card. The officers also found receipts from Longhorn Steakhouse totaling $1,250.

Officer Voyer contacted Immigrations Customs Enforcement, which informed him Seino had entered the country a few months ago from Cameroon, Africa.

The officers charged Seino with fraudulent use of credit cards and obstructing an officer in the course of his duty. He is scheduled to appear in Third District Court on Jan. 11 to answer the credit fraud charge.