ALLENTOWN, Pa. – An Allentown man was arrested after an investigation into fraudulent activity involving credit cards stolen from a local nonprofit, authorities said Thursday.

The South Whitehall Township Police Department took Cesar Martes Cedano into custody following an investigation into alleged access device fraud, the police said in a Facebook post.

Investigators say the case involved stolen credit cards belonging to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley.

On April 29, 2025, police were dispatched to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation for a report of fraudulent credit card use.

An officer met with Michelle Zenie, the executive director, who reported that her corporate Fulton Bank credit card had been fraudulently used earlier that morning at multiple retail locations in Whitehall, according to the affidavit. 

Between the hours of 8:54 a.m. and 9:44 a.m., she stated that several unauthorized transactions occurred while her physical card remained in her possession, police said.

Each Foundation employee is issued an individual corporate card, confirming that her specific account had been compromised. 

The retail locations include Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, and Best Buy, with hundreds of dollars being spent throughout the morning. 

A dark SUV was seen stopping near the business mailbox shared by the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the neighboring My Tequila House, police said. 

Zenie said she had been expecting a replacement corporate credit card i the mail around that time, suggesting possible mail theft, according to the affidavit. 

The Lehigh County Regional Intelligence and Investigative Ceneter (RIIC) identified Martes Cedano, residing in the 200 block of South Franklin Street in Allentown, with Jeimarys Rodriguez, police said.

Their vehicle matched the SUV captured on Walmart and Best Buy surveillance video, according to the affidavit. 

During a search of Martes Cedano’s residence, police reported seizing more than $600,000 in stolen checks and over 40 fraudulent credit and debit cards, according to the post.

Officers also recovered numerous fraudulent documents and electronic devices containing evidence of the activity.

Martes Cedano faces three counts of access device fraud.

Zenie spoke with 69 News and clarified that the $600,000 in stolen checks do not belong to the foundation. 

“Certainly having a theft like this occur is upsetting and we felt vulnerable. However, since this has occurred, they have taken several precautions and safeguards to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. We are also grateful for the continued support and wonderful people in the community,” Zenie told 69 News. 

The investigation remains ongoing and is being conducted by the South Whitehall Township Police Department in connection with the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Authorities ask anyone with information to contact Detective Tyler Doherty at 610-398-0337.