Danbury Man Used Fake Credit Card To Buy Cell Phone, Cops Say

WESTPORT, CT — A 20-year-old Danbury man was arrested Thursday on charges of forgery, larceny, criminal impersonation and related violations after he tried to buy a cell phone using a fake credit card, according to Westport police.

The incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless story in the 300 block of the Post Road East in Westport. Store staff contacted police that a customer was trying to buy a phone with a fake Massachusetts driver's license and a fake credit card.

Officers detained the suspect in the store and eventually determined his name was Ivan Meneses-Batista.

"He claimed that he had been attempting to purchase a cellular phone for his cousin through fraud," said Westport police. "He further admitted to being in possession of a number of additional fraudulent pieces of identification and credit cards which were seized."

Meneses-Batista was taken into custody and charged with the following:

• Unlawful reproduction of a credit card (17 counts)
• Criminal impersonation
• Third-degree Forgery (17 counts)
• Criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny
• Criminal attempt at the illegal use of a credit card

He was released after posting bond on bail of $25,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 17.