Bogus Credit Cards Lands A Man In Jail

A 24-year-old New York City man that was in the Albany area last year, was accused of identity theft, after a traffic stop.

Andy Ceballos from The Bronx was stopped by the East Greenbush Police, last July, for allegedly having a vehicle that was not registered due to being suspended by the New York State Department Of Motor Vehicles. The vehicle was towed.

In a press release from the East Greenbush Police Department, during a routine search of the vehicle, police found dozens of credit cards that were hidden in a bag of chips. After the cards were confiscated and a little more investigating, it was believed that the cards were stolen.

The Albany office of the Secret Service was called in for assistance, and after further electronic examining, the credit cards were found to have the name of the embossed holder and bar code data altered.

After a lengthy investigation, it was discovered that Ceballos, and possibly another associate, allegedly made some gift cards purchases with the phony credit cards, and then buy some high end electronic items. They would then allegedly return the items that they bought to the stores, with receipts, and get a refund. To avoid having the refund placed on the credit card, gift cards were purchased. They were accused of taking the gift cards, buy other high end electronics, and then return the items to the store and get cash, as is the policy with gift cards.

Ceballos was charged with 37 counts of Identity Theft In The First Degree. and 37 counts of Possessing Forged Instrument In The Second Degree.He was arraigned in East Greenbush Town Court last Wednesday by East Greenbush Justice Mary Pat Donnelly and was remanded to County Jail in lieu of $10,000 dollars bail. Bond was posted on June 10 and Ceballos will reappear in Town Court on June 19.