Niagara County also makes arrests in alleged credit card scheming
LOCKPORT – Three people arrested last week by the State Police for credit card scheming and identity theft now also face charges in Niagara County for similar crimes.
Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour announced on Tuesday that the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office obtained several warrants for the three men involved in recent credit card skimming and identity thefts in the Town of Lockport. The three accused are currently in custody in the Orleans County Jail on charges by the State Police.
The three now facing charges by Niagara County include: Ernesto Alvarez Santos, 20, of Hialeah, Florida; Able Garcia Fernandez, 31, of Hialeah, Florida; and Yordani Ramirez Salgado, 27, of Miami, Florida.
All three will be charged with Grand Larceny 4th degree, Identity Theft 1st degree, Forgery 2nd degree, and Criminal Possession of Forged Instrument 2nd degree.
The investigation is ongoing with the State Police, Voutour said.
The three were arrested on Jan. 24 in Albion when the State Police and federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to Walmart in Albion for men attempting to use fraudulent gift cards, the State Police reported.
When Troopers and BCI investigators approached Ramirez-Salgado, he attempted to flee and resisted arrest.
Ramirez-Salgado was transported to the State Police barracks in Albion for processing. The other suspects fled the scene in a red Nissan Versa which was given out by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. This vehicle was later located by an off-duty county dispatcher traveling on State Route 98. With the assistance of an Orleans County deputy that vehicle was stopped and Garcia-Fernandez, Alvarez-Santos where detained and transported to the State Police in Albion.
All three are in Orleans County Jail on $100,000 bail.
At this time it is possible that hundreds of credit card information has been taken.
If you are a victim of credit card fraud contact your County Dispatch non-emergency number.
Allegany County Sheriff’s Office 585-268-9600
Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office 716-938-9191
Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office 716-664-3100
Erie County Sheriff’s Office 716-858-2903
Genesee County Sheriff’s Office 585-343-5000
Niagara County Sheriff’s Office 716-438-3394
Orleans County Sheriff’s Office 585-589-5528
Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office 585-786-2255
