UPDATED: Former Bella Sol Owner Charged with Defrauding Customers

The owner of the now closed Bella Sol restaurant on Market Street was arrested Monday on charges that he defrauded customers out of more than $2,400 by placing charges on their credit cards without their authorization.

Brian Pearson, 28, of of 172 White Lake Rd., Chocorua, N.H., is charged with one count of fraudulent use of a credit card, a Class A felony, according to Portsmouth Police Capt. Corey MacDonald, chief of the detectives division.

According to police, the complaint alleges that from Aug. 27, 2010 to May 26, 2011, Pearson placed charges on the credit cards of customers and former customers. Police said many of the charges were small, but the total amount charged was $2,437.87. 

"Many of the charges to credit cards were made after the restaurant had ceased operations. Over 37 people have come forward to report fraudulent activity on their accounts relating to Bella Sol," reads the police press released issued by MacDonald.

Currently, the  by the owners of the Dolphin Striker restaurant into a new restaurant that will be called "Michelle's on Market Square/Country European Bistro." It is scheduled to open later this month.

Scott Massidda, co-owner of the Dolphin Striker and Michelle's on Market Square, thought it was just a shame that something like this happened.

"I think some of the feeling would be kind of obvious, shocked and dismayed. Who likes to see their profession downgraded by a bad apple?"

Massidda said he doesn't know why Pearson would have engaged in the activity that police allege.

"Sometimes desperate people do desperate things," he said.

Massidda also said the Portsmouth community of restauranteurs is a close-knit group that does as much as they can to please their local customers and visitors. He hopes that what happened at the former Bella Sol will not adversely affect the reputation that Portsmouth restaurants enjoy.

Pearson was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 7 in Portsmouth District Court.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Rochelle Jones at 603-610-7503.