Three Reading men have been charged with participating in a multistate refund and fraudulent-purchase scheme that targeted Lowe’s stores, resulting in nearly $35,000 in losses across eight eastern Pennsylvania counties.
Smerlin J. Ventura Rojas, 27, Wilson Vasquez Rojas, 29, and Jeferson Aracena Duarte, 23, were charged Nov. 21 by the Pennsylvania attorney general’s Organized Retail Crime Unit with corrupt organization, organized retail theft, conspiracy and access device fraud.
Vasquez Rojas and Aracena Duarte were free on $25,000 bail following arraignment last week before District Judge Ann L. Young in Reading Central Court. Ventura Rojas was not in custody as of Tuesday.
According to investigators, the group also is suspected of causing an additional $26,500 in losses to Lowe’s stores in other states.
The affidavit states the scheme occurred between May 31 and June 6 at 13 Lowe’s locations in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, Carbon, Lancaster, Northampton and Cumberland counties.
According to the probable cause affidavit:
The investigation began June 10 when the Lowe’s organized retail theft manager reported a pattern of fraudulent purchases being made with Lowe’s consumer cards belonging to unsuspecting customers.
Those cards, issued through Synchrony Bank, were used online to buy high-value items commonly used in construction, including flooring, air-conditioning units, vacuums, thermostats and smart locks.
Once an order was placed, one of the suspects would go to the store where the merchandise was awaiting pickup and retrieve it before the account holder received a bill. When the legitimate customer later disputed the unauthorized charge, Synchrony issued a chargeback to Lowe’s, leaving the retailer to absorb the loss.
Investigators reviewed surveillance videos showing suspects matching Ventura Rojas, Vasquez Rojas and Aracena Duarte picking up orders tied to the fraudulent transactions.
The series of thefts included losses such as $1,513 in Spring Township, Berks County; $6,495 in Avondale, Chester County; $2,744 in Elverson, Chester County, $2,619 in Willow Grove, Montgomery County; and $2,735 in Quakertown, Bucks County.
The total reported loss in Pennsylvania was $34,368.