Fake Receipt Scam Unravels in Stafford: Police

STAFFORD, VA — Two Richmond men, one of whom apparently was involved in a long-running fake receipt scam throughout Virginia, were arrested last week after stealing several big-money items from the Walmart at 217 Garrisonville Road, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.

Brian Edward Gray, 48, of 37th Street in Richmond, was charged with grand larceny, two counts of conspiracy and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Lionel Green, 43, of Front Street in Richmond, was charged with grand larceny and two counts of conspiracy.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. last Wednesday, police responded to a report from the store that two men had been observed shoplifting items than included a Razor miniature dirt bike, after which they left in a gold vehicle.

Police spotted the vehicle and detained the men when it stopped at a convenience store parking lot. In the back seat they found the dirt bike, a new computer and a set of Rachel Ray cookware.

The men said the items weren't stolen, and showed police a sales receipt to prove as much. So police summoned a Walmart loss prevention officer, who examined the receipt and said it was fake, after which the men admitted the ruse.

Gray said he and his partner went to Walmart earlier in the day and bought low-dollar items, after which he took the receipt to his car, scanned it into his computer and then altered it to display higher priced items.

He also said the plan was that if any store employees stopped them on their exit, the would show them the look-alike receipt and then resell the items to "little corner stores" or trade them for drugs.

Police say Gray apparently has been using the scam since 2009, usually along I-95 and I-64.

The men are being held without bond.

Photos: Stafford County Sheriff's Office