Suspended Florida Gators facing felony fraud charges after credit card misuse
Nine Florida players are facing felony charges after they allegedly used stolen credit card information to make purchases from the university bookstore and elsewhere, including loading school-issued debit cards to buy electronics. According to Alachua County court records, wide receiver Antonio Callaway and running back Jordan Scarlett are among nine players facing felony charges for fraud. The players were suspended before the team’s season-opener against Michigan: Callaway, Scarlett, end Jordan Smith, receiver Rick Wells, defensive lineman Richerd Desir-Jones, linebacker Ventrell Miller, linebacker James Houston, defensive lineman Keivonnis Davis and offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort. All nine players remained suspended, and no arrests are pending at this point. According to Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times, seven of the nine players could be candidates for pre-trial intervention, excluding Smith and Telfort, who face more charges than the other players.
Callaway, who led Florida with 721 receiving yards last season, has been charged with a third-degree felony. Scarlett is facing two third-degree felony charges. The running back rushed for 889 yards a season ago and entered the season as the starter. Smith, who red-shirted last season, has been charged with five counts of felony fraud. Telfort, a true freshman, faces 30 charges. Many of the fraudulent purchases were iPads and laptops bought through the university bookstore at an educationally discounted price. Multiple players told police they had sold the electronics Telfort used the information from multiple credit cards to make several food delivery orders through the website 352delivery.com. [Source: Sports Illustrated]
Fraud suspects steal more than $17,000 with skimmed credit card
Two suspects wanted in a Fort Bend, Texas, fraud case got away with more than $17,000 by making purchases of money orders as well as ATM withdrawals using a counterfeit debit card. On Aug. 7, 2017, the male suspect and female suspect used the victim’s debit card number to purchase approximately $16,600 in money orders from post offices in Brookshire, Sealy, Columbus, Eagle Lake and Sheridan, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office said in a release. The suspects also made an ATM withdrawal for $500 at the Citgo gas station in Houston. The suspect who made the ATM withdrawal is described as a Hispanic man, mid to late 20s, medium build with short brown hair. He was wearing a gray and black t-shirt and blue jeans. He was also caught on surveillance video. The suspect who completed the money order transactions is described as a Hispanic female, mid to late 20s, medium build with brown hair. She was wearing a blue jacket and light-colored dress. Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to arrest in this case. Anonymous tips may be provided by calling 281-342-8477. [Source: Chron]
Seventy-seven-year-old accused of shoplifting cold sore medicine; returning for cash
A 77-year-old man from Lane County, Oregon, was arrested following a two-month investigation into cases of shoplifting and forgery that started with a traffic stop. Terrence Lee Liddell faces 33 counts of first-degree theft, first-degree forgery and possession of a forged instrument. According to the Oregon State Police, the investigation began in July based on evidence found when a trooper stopped a vehicle being driven by Liddell for a traffic violation. The trooper, assisted by OSP detectives, determined Liddell had been shoplifting Abreva brand cold sore medication from Bi-Mart locations in Oregon and Washington then returning the medication for refunds using forged receipts. Evidence gathered from documents, surveillance video and a search of the suspect’s computer led investigators to believe Liddell had made 33 fraudulent returns in Oregon totaling up to $4,281. Investigators interviewed Liddell and said he admitted to the incidents. They also said Liddell showed them the stolen Bi-Mart printer paper he used to make the forged receipts. [Source: Fox12 Oregon]
Walmart’s holiday hiring plan: More hours for current associates
What follows is a statement from Judith McKenna, Chief Operating Officer, Walmart US: “To help customers save time and money this season, we are offering the extra hours available this time of year to our current associates rather than hiring thousands of seasonal workers. These extra hours will help staff traditional roles like cashier and stocker, and newly created technology-empowered positions such as personal shoppers and Pickup associates. This is the same approach we took last year, and we heard great feedback from our customers and associates. This is what working in retail is all about, and we know our associates have the passion to do even more this year. We’ve increased our focus on service through new training, tools and technology. Thousands of associates have completed training in our Pathways and Academy programs, which prepares them to more effectively serve customers, especially during this busy season. We are also bringing back the very popular Holiday Helper and increasing the number of Helpers we have in stores this season. These associates are dedicated to helping customers get through the stores faster by finding the shortest checkout line, opening registers as needed and will even quickly grab items customers might have forgotten. Our associates make the holidays come to life in our stores, and we are thankful for everything they do to help our customers have the best possible shopping experience. As we head into our busiest time of the year, we know associates are ready to deliver for our customers and help give them a memorable and affordable Christmas. [Source: Walmart]
Woman wanted for pepper spraying LP associate after robbing Lexington retailer
A woman is wanted for robbing an area department store and assaulting a loss prevention associate with pepper spray, according to the Lexington Police Department in South Carolina. Veronica Latrice Bailey, 32 of Winnsboro, is wanted for a strong arm robbery after an incident at Kohl’s. The Lexington Police Department is asking for the community’s help in locating Bailey, who they say has been involved in numerous past shoplifting incidents at Kohl’s. On Saturday, Bailey allegedly took numerous items of children’s clothing into a fitting room, where a loss prevention associate heard Bailey removing tags from the clothing, according to Public Information Officer Cpl. Cameron Mortenson. The LP associate said Bailey’s purse was visibly larger than before entering. The employee asked Bailey to return the merchandise when she left the store, according to the police, saying Bailey responded by pepper spraying the associate in the face while standing in the parking lot. As the associate attempted to get the license plate number of the vehicle Bailey was getting into to leave, she turned around and pepper sprayed the associate again in the face, according to Mortenson. Anyone with information is asked to call the Lexington Police Department at 803-359-6260, or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. [Source: The State]
LP Worldwide: Police seize counterfeit brand-name products in central Taiwan
More than 2,000 pieces of counterfeit brand-name clothing and footwear have been seized at several markets in central Taiwan in police raids, police said Monday. After conducting surveillance for several months, the police seized counterfeit products in Taichung and Yunlin relating to brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and Roots. The goods would have a total value of NT$2 million (US$67,600) in retail stores if they were genuine, an officer said. The counterfeits were seized from four vendors who had been selling them at traditional markets and night markets, which often attract large numbers of tourists, according to the police. [Source: Focus Taiwan]
Target sets $11 wages, aims for $15 minimum by 2020
Target announced plans on Monday to raise its minimum hourly wage for all team members to $11 this October, along with a commitment to increasing the minimum hourly wage to $15 by the end of 2020. The company called the move a “significant investment” that will allow it to continue to recruit and retain strong team members and provide an elevated experience for customers, according to a company press release. The retailer will provide pay increases to thousands of team members across the country before the holiday season, Target said. The increase will also apply to the more than 100,000 hourly team members Target is hiring for the holiday season. Target on Monday also reiterated its most recent sales and earnings guidance for its third quarter and full year 2017. Target expects both third quarter and fourth quarter 2017 same-store sales growth to fall within the results in the first and second quarters, and expects its full-year 2017 same-store sales growth to be in a range around flat, plus or minus 1%, according to a company press release. [Source: RetailDRIVE]
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