3 Charged In Shoplifting, Credit Card Fraud After Brick Arrests

BRICK, NJ — Three men have been charged in connection with what authorities say is a shoplifting ring responsible for credit card thefts and fraudulent card activity across New Jersey, Brick police said Wednesday.

Luis Ramirez-Gonzalez, 29, Esteban Ibrarra-Ignacio, 22, and Hector Marquez-Troncoso, 41, all of Queens, New York, were arrested April 6 on shoplifting and fraud charges at the Target on Route 70, Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly said.

Kelly said Lt. Paul Catalina, Sgt. Jason Shepherd, and Officers Marc Alexander, Chase Carter and Terence Berkeley about 5 p.m. April 6, with more officers responding because of the recent string of purse thefts and fraudulent card activity at retail stores across the state.

Detective Brian Farnkopf had been investigating several cases of theft and fraudulent card activity at the Walmart and Target stores in town, among others, Kelly said. Those thefts were being conducted in groups of three to five men who appeared to be of Latin or Hispanic descent, Kelly said.

Because the shoplifters at Target were described as a group of three Hispanic men, one of whom was seen hiding merchandise in a backpack while the other two used several gift cards to purchase electronics, Farnkopf went to Target to investigate as well, Kelly said.

The gift cards used to buy the electronics had been purchased at a Target in Princeton earlier in the day with a stolen credit card, Kelly said, and the three men were arrested and their cell phones and vehicle were seized, he said.

Ramirez-Gonzelez was found to be in possession of $233.37 worth of stolen items and was charged with shoplifting, credit card fraud, and theft by deception, Kelly said.

Ibrarra-Ignacio, who police learned had been the driver, was found to be in possession of $991.59 worth of fraudulently obtained merchandise, including an Apple Watch S7 and an iPad Mini. He was charged with shoplifting, credit card fraud, theft by deception, possession of a fake ID, unlicensed driving, unregistered vehicle and fictitious plates, Kelly said.

Marquez-Troncoso was charged with shoplifting, credit card fraud and theft by deception, Kelly said.

In addition, Farnkopf was able to link the three to several thefts and fraudulent purchases committed in other stores around the state through the April 6 shoplifting incident. Kelly said.

All three were charged on warrants and taken to the Ocean County Jail.

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