Two Florida men charged with credit card fraud in Maine

By Nok Noi Ricker
BDN Staff

BANGOR — A detective with the Saco Police Department noticed that there were four unauthorized purchases on his debit card and the subsequent investigation led to two Florida men originally from Cuba being charged with credit card fraud, Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said Friday.

Ariel Perez-Calvo (left), 27, of Miami, and Roberto David Lueje Rodriguez (right) , 29, of Hialeah, were caught on Wednesday as the two prepared to travel by plane back to Florida. Perez-Calvo was arrested at Portland International Jetport and Rodriguez was arrested at a Portland motel by Maine State Police troopers Matt Grant and Jarod Stedman, who investigated the fraud along with local police agencies.

Perez-Calvo was charged with Class B theft by deception and Rodriguez, who was released on $50,000 cash bail on Thursday, was charged with Class C theft by unauthorized taking and Class C theft by deception, a Penobscot County Jail official said. Perez-Calvo was held on $100,000 bail at Penobscot County Jail.

The co-defendants are accused of taking “more than $10,000 as a result of deception and with intent to deprive Town and Country Credit Union,” District Court Judge John Lucy said during Perez-Calvo’s first appearance Friday at the Penobscot Judicial Center.

He was not asked to enter a plea because the case is expected to be presented to the Penobscot County grand jury later this month, Lucy said.

Saco Detective Daryen Granada “reported that his debit card information had been used to make purchases at Rite Aid stores in Guilford, Milo, Dexter and Millinocket on [Jan. 8],” states the affidavit filed in court by Grant, who investigated the case. “The purchases totalled $1,679, which were debited to his bank account at the Town and County Federal Credit Union.”

Each of the individual purchases on Granada’s debit card were for $400 Visa gift cards and a greeting card, but the investigation quickly determined that his bank card was just one of many from Town and Country Federal Credit Union and Gorham Savings Bank customers that has similar charges, the affidavit states. Purchases were also made at Hannaford grocery stores and Walgreens. The gift cards also were purchased at stores in Hampden, Ellsworth, Bucksport, Belfast, Camden and others, the affidavit states.

“The suspects used the stolen bank information to create fictitious debit cards and make purchases throughout Maine at Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Hannaford stores, among others,” Stephen McCausland, State Police spokesman, said in a Friday night statement. “The purchases generally were prepaid Visa cards.”

One bank manager told police that in a recent, similar scam, criminals used a “a card skimmer at a local merchant” to get the credit card information, and then the stolen bank data was sold on the Internet.

“In tracking this down, [Maine State Police investigators] were able to obtain video from various stores,” Brendan O’Brien, assistant district attorney for Penobscot County, told the court. “The defendant and co-defendant were using stolen credit cards.”

One store clerk became suspicious and wrote down the license plate of the rental car driven by the two Florida men, which was traced back to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Almy said.

The two men rented the vehicle and used the fraudulent credit cards using various alias, according to the affidavit. They arrived at Bangor International Airport on Jan. 7.

O’Brien expressed “very serious concerns” about the defendants showing up for future court dates because they have no connections to Maine, and requested a $50,000 cash bail.

“They really were only here ripping off everyone including Rite Aid and Hannaford and [the Saco detective],” the prosecutor said.

Lucy said given the “substantial risk of flight” he set Perez-Calvo’s bail at $100,000 cash, and he also added conditions not to use or possess any credit or debit cards, not to go to Rite Aid or Hannaford stores, not to have any contact with his co-defendant, and he also set a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, if he is released on bail.

“That bail will be reviewable once Mr. Perez receives council,” Lucy said.

His next court date is a dispositional conference on March 8.

The investigation continues, McCausland said. “State Police urge account holders to check their banking statements for any fraudulent transactions involving purchases of $300-$450 at Rite Aid, Hannaford, or Walgreen retailers between [Jan. 7] and [Jan. 13],” he said. “If suspect charges are found on your account contact your financial institution to report the theft.”

State Police worked with Portland Police Department, Brewer Police Department, Dover Police Department and Immigration Customs Enforcement on the credit card scam.

Those with information related to the case can contact troopers Matt Grant or Jarod Stedman at the State Police barracks in Bangor at 207-973-3700.