Northport Police Arrest Fraudulent Credit, Debit Card Suspects

Photo: (l-r) Dequan Faria, Kyle Harbajan and Anthony Pierrelouis

Northport Police arrested three men Saturday who are accused of using fraudulent credit and debit cards on more than one occasion in Northport.

According to authorities, three men attempted to use a fraudulent credit card at King Kullen on Fort Salonga Road on Sunday, May 21. The suspects left the store when employees called police after refusing to accept the card. The men also entered a Rite Aid drug store in the same shopping center, but left before police arrived.

The three men were then spotted at the same Rite Aid on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. and reportedly used a forged debit card to buy $234.73 in items, which included an Apple gift card for $220, four cans of Red Bull energy drink and a greeting card, police said.

The suspects were recognized by a Rite Aid employee who gave Northport Police a description of the men and what type of vehicle they left in, police said.

Northport’s Sergeant Michael Cook was able to spot the vehicle and follow it.

Police said Cook and Lt. William Ricca stopped the vehicle and arrested the following suspects on Centerport Road in Greenlawn:

• Anthony Pierrelouis, 21, of Jamaica, Queens, was arrested and charged with second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument (5 forged debit cards) and petty larceny.
• Kyle Harbajan, 17, of Jamaica, Queens, was arrested and charged with second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument (7 forged debit cards) and petty larceny.
• Dequan Faria, 21, of Laurinburg, NC, was arrested and charged with fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property (one stolen credit card) and petty larceny.

According to Northport Police, fraudulent cards typically have valid magnetic stripes on the back, but the account numbers on the front of the card will appear altered. Authorities advise business owners to inspect credit and debit cards before they are used and to refuse to accept cards with altered account numbers.

Image via Northport Police

*An arrest does not necessarily mean a conviction.