Credit Card Fraud Scheme Targeted Lakewood Food Stores: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A pair of Lakewood residents have been charged in connection with a credit card fraud scheme that targeted several local food markets, Lakewood police said Thursday.

Pablo Rivera, 33, and Milca Bermudez, 54, were arrested at their home on Kennedy Boulevard on Monday, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said, and additional arrests are expected.

Staffordsmith said the scheme has involved large orders being placed for cleaning supplies at several food markets, including FoodEx, Gourmet Glatt, Seasons, and Kosher Village, and once the items were delivered, the credit card charge was canceled. The credit cards being used were stolen, he said.

The investigation began when the owner of FoodEx reported a pattern of suspicious home delivery orders over the last two months to the Kennedy Boulevard residence of the two people arrested, he said.

Rivera was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, three counts of possession of CDS within 500 feet of a public park, two counts of distribution of CDS within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of marijuana. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail.

Bermudez was charged and released under bail reform rules.

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