Two New York men are accused of using stolen customer information at self-checkout kiosks to net nearly $100,000 at Lowe’s home improvement stores spanning eight statewide counties.
Jose Gomez, 48, and Ysaias Arajuo, 53, both of Middletown, each are charged with felony counts of theft; corrupt organizations; organized retail theft; and related offenses.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday on Thursday announced Gomez’s arrest. Araju remains at large with a warrant filed for his arrest.
Authorities said the co-defendants were involved in a total of at least 56 retail thefts at 18 Lowe’s stores spanning Northampton and Lehigh counties, as well as neighboring Bucks, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Pike counties.
In the scheme, investigators learned Gomez and Arajuo allegedly utilized self-check kiosks at the stores to make purchases using cellphones, which were linked to stolen customer accounts, authorities said.
When customers whose accounts were stolen received bills with fraudulent charges, they disputed the purchases with their banks that issued the Lowe’s cards. The bank declined payment to Lowe’s, leaving the company to absorb the cost of the thefts.
The total amount of loss to Lowe’s is $99,689, the state AG’s Office said.
Sunday in a statement praised the quick work of law enforcement in nabbing the suspects.
“These defendants orchestrated a sophisticated scheme that targeted unsuspecting customers, as well as Lowe’s businesses across numerous counties,” he stated. “Organized retail theft impacts consumers who will be forced to pay higher prices for goods as businesses raise prices to recover losses.”
The Warrington Township Police Department assisted in the investigation with the Pennsylvania Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Noelle Wilkinson of that unit.
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