Secret Service Aids in Busting Credit Card Fraud Suspects in Enfield

ENFIELD, CT - An investigation into a credit card fraud case late last week crossed over town and state lines, involving the Secret Service and leading to the arrests of an out-of-state man and woman.

Ralph Pimentel, 40, of Miramer, Fla., was charged with multiple counts of credit card theft by transfer, charging less than $500 on a revoked credit card, receipt of goods from an illegally-used credit card, organized retail theft, third-degree larceny, fifth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, second-degree identity theft, third-degree identity theft, second-degree forgery and third-degree forgery.

Shawna Brod, 38, of Garland, Tex., was charged with multiple counts of credit card theft by transfer, charging less than $500 on a revoked credit card, receipt of goods from an illegally-used credit card, organized retail theft, third-degree larceny, fifth-degree larceny and interfering with an officer.

Each was held in lieu of $300,000 bond, and they were arraigned Monday in Enfield Superior Court.

Police Chief Carl Sferrazza said the series of events began Friday at 6:15 p.m., when police were summoned to the P.C. Richard and Son store in the Stateline Plaza with a report of someone using a fake credit card and ID.

Police confirmed the fake ID and notified the person whose identity was being used, who told them their card had been also apparently been used at Home Depot. Officers arrested Pimentel and Brod, and impounded their vehicle, Sferrazza said.

A search of the vehicle yielded $1,800 worth of gift cards from Home Depot, and a number of phones from Cellular Sales, a kiosk in the Enfield Square, valued at $7,000. Brod was found to have 20 more fraudulent credit cards on her person, Sferrazza said.

On Saturday morning, Secret Service agents were brought in and determined all of the cards were fraudulent. A warrant was then obtained to search the couple's hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express in Windsor Locks, where 62 more fake cards were found, Sferrazza said.

"This does not appear to be a one-time occurrence," Sferrazza said. "We have identities of over 80 people crossing over state lines, and with federal involvement, this was a good arrest."

Photos courtesy of Enfield Police Department