6 Arrested for Using Stolen Credit Card Numbers to 'Buy' $10,000 in Apple Products

LAKE COUNTY, IL - The Lake County Sheriff’s Office busted an elaborate criminal enterprise and arrested six people from New York after conducting increased patrols and surveillance at an Apple store in Deer Park, later recovering over $10,000 in stolen Apple products, police said Monday.

The sheriff’s office first learned the ring was attempting to make fraudulent purchases at various Apple stores throughout the Chicago area on July 20. A further investigation revealed the offenders involved were allegedly using stolen identities and stolen credit card numbers of victims throughout the United States, to make the purchases, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release.

As part of their investigation, Lake County Sheriff’s detectives along with Lake County Sheriff's Office patrol deputies began conducting increased patrols and surveillance at the Deer Park Apple store.

On July 20, Nicole E. Cannon, 21, of New York City, allegedly attempted to purchase Apple products at the Deer Park Apple store with a fraudulent identity and counterfeit credit cards. Then, on July 22, Gisselle Diaz, 41, of Elmhurst, New York, also attempted to purchase Apple products at the Deer Park Apple store with a fraudulent identity, according to the news release.

On July 24, the additional suspects were busted for attempting to fraudulently purchase Apple products at the Deer Park Apple store:

• Corbett Ortiz, 26, of New York, New York
• Quintin Ortiz, 18, of Bronx, New York
• Melinda Aquino, 21, of Bronx, New York
• Frank Aulet, 20, of Bronx, New York

During the investigation, Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives recovered over $10,000 worth of stolen Apple products from the offenders. Authorities also learned the suspects had allegedly been stealing from stores throughout the Chicago area, Lake County Sheriff's Office spokesman Christopher Covelli told Patch in an e-mail response Monday morning

"... the investigation continues to determine if they have been committing these crimes throughout the country," Covelli told Patch in an e-mail response Monday morning. "It’s very possible this extends beyond Illinois."

Those involved in the alleged crime spree have been arrested and face the following charges:

Cannon is currently being held on a $125,000 bail at the Lake County Jail. She is charged with burglary, a class 2 felony; possession of a counterfeit credit card, a class 3 felony; use of a counterfeit credit card, a class 3 felony; unlawful use of a fraudulent ID to commit theft, a class 3 felony; identity theft, a class 3 felony; and forgery, a class 3 felony. Cannon is next expected in court on Aug. 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Diaz is currently being held at the Lake County Jail on a $75,000 bail. She is charged with retail theft, a class 2 felony; identity theft, a class 2 felony; and burglary, a class 2 felony. Her next court date is on July 28 at 1:30 p.m.

Corbett Ortiz is being held without bail at the Lake County Jail. He is charged with burglary, a class 2 felony; possession of a counterfeit credit card, a class 3 felony; use of a counterfeit credit card, a class 3 felony; unlawful use of a fraudulent ID to commit theft, class 3 felony; identity theft, class 3 felony; and forgery, class 3 felony. He on July 25.

Quintin Ortiz is being held without bail at the Lake County Jail. He is charged with burglary, a class 2 felony; possession of a counterfeit credit card, a class 3 felony; unlawful use of a fraudulent ID to commit theft, a class 3 felony; identity theft, a class 3 felony; and forgery, a class 3 felony. Ortiz is expected back in court on July 25.

Aquino is being held on a $150,000 bail at the Lake County Jail. She is charged with burglary, a class 2 felony; possession of a counterfeit credit card, a class 3 felony; unlawful use of a fraudulent ID to commit theft, a class 3 felony; and identity theft, a class 3 felony. Aquino is next expected in court on July 26

Aulet is being held on a $250,000 bail. He is charged with possession of a counterfeit credit card, a class 3 felony; possession of a fraudulent ID to commit theft, a class 3 felony; and identity theft, a class 3 felony. He is next expected in court on July 26.

Photo caption: Top from left to right: Cannon, Diaz and Corbett Ortiz and Bottom from left to right: Quintin Ortiz, Aquino and Aulet.