Man with ‘Extensive’ Criminal History Used Fraudulent Credit Cards at Price Chopper: Middletown Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A New York man with an “extensive” criminal history is accused of using fraudulent credit cards at Price Chopper and is believed to have been involved in several other similar cases, according to police.

Michael A. Nelson, 30, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested Oct. 20 after Middletown Police responded to Price Chopper, located at 855 Washington Street, on the report of credit card fraud.

Nelson made two purchases, totaling $380.24, at Price Chopper and used multiple credit cards to do so, according to the police report.

Police said Nelson was found to be in the possession of 11 separate credit cards that appeared to be fraudulent. The cards were all issued in Nelson’s name, had different account numbers, expiration dates and security codes, according to the police report.

The cards also belonged to separate financial institutions.

Upon viewing the cards, police said they were found to have the “imprinted wording or numbering to be offset or off center and wording designated to the brand or type of credit card had been scratched off,” according to the report.

Nelson admitted to police that he purchases fraudulent cards for his own personal use, the report states.

The Price Chopper security officer told police that Nelson had been observed in other stores making purchases that are also believed to be from the use of fraudulent credit cards.

Nelson was arrested on charges of credit card forgery, sixth-degree larceny, illegal use of credit card and receipt of money/goods/services by illegal credit card use.

Police said Nelson was found to have an extensive criminal history and as a New York resident is a possible flight risk.

Police are continuing to investigate and believe Nelson will be found to have been involved in multiple other instances of credit card fraud, according to the police report.

“It should be noted this is one of numerous instances across the state of Connecticut involving the use of fraudulent credit cards and executed by similar methods,” police wrote in the report.

Nelson remains in custody and is being held on a $2,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 17, according to state judicial records.

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