Crime & Safety

Two Charged in Cloned Credit Card Scheme

Two Lehigh Acres men were arrested Tuesday for allegedly attempting to commit fraud at several Sarasota area stores with dozens of cloned credit cards, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrested Alfredo Torrella, 35, and Orlando Rodriguez, 39, Friday night after they tried to purchase Home Depot gift cards with several credit cards that were declined.

Deputies searched their rental vehicle and found 120 counterfeit credit cards, personal information for 29 different victims and a fake driver’s license.

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The suspects admitted purchasing the cards and information from someone in the Miami area for about $4,500, but said they were frustrated because many of the cards didn’t work.

Torrella is charged with 29 counts of possession of personal identification with intent to use, two counts of criminal use of personal identification and one count of trafficking in fraudulent credit cards. Rodriguez is charged with three counts of criminal use of personal identification, one count of trafficking in fraudulent credit cards, possession of a counterfeit driver’s license, tampering with evidence and obstruction.

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