Smithville Police arrested three out-of-state men last week after allegedly attempting to purchase items at two different retail stores using a fake credit card. The arrests have also led to an investigation into an armed robbery of a postal worker, as well as the theft of a large amount of mail including checks.

Police say that 25-year-old Anthony Marquall Love of McMinnville, formerly of Flint, Michigan, 19-year-old Rodney Ray Lee Sheridan Jr. of Columbus, OH, and 18-year-old Raymond Anton Walker also of Columbus, OH, have been each charged with two counts of criminal simulation and theft over $10,000 (possession of stolen mail). All three men are each being held under $200,000 bond.

According to Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, “On Saturday, August 20, at approximately 7:50 p.m., the Smithville Police Department received a call from a Smithville Walmart Asset Protection employee who stated that two male subjects had just attempted to obtain merchandise with a fake credit card. The employee stated that the subjects had left in a dark colored Dodge Charger, possibly with GA. tags.”

“The employee also stated that the method that they attempted was very similar to an attempt made by individuals back in May of this year, where over $9,000 worth of merchandise was stolen.”

“A patrol sergeant with Smithville Police was contacted to be on the lookout for a vehicle matching the description given by the Walmart employee, and approximately 13 minutes later a patrol contacted a Smithville Police Department investigator and stated that they had spotted the vehicle at the Dollar General Store in Smithville, next to Sav-A-Lot.”

“Once the vehicle pulled out of the parking lot, a patrol officer stopped the vehicle and found three male subjects inside. Shortly after, Smithville Police Investigators arrived on scene where they were able to confirm the subjects though a surveillance photo of them sent by the Walmart Employee.”

“A search was conducted of the suspects’ persons, as well as the vehicle, which revealed several credit cards. Two of the cards were later identified by the cashiers as being the cards that the subjects had allegedly attempted to use.”

“Also found in the vehicle was a stack of, what was later found to be, 132 checks from different account holders in the state of Kentucky, all written out to various businesses and individuals.”

Chief Collins reported that all three subjects were detained from the traffic stop and transported to the Smithville Police Department for further investigation. After statements were taken from cashiers at both Walmart and Dollar General, and surveillance footage was gathered and reviewed, the suspects were placed under arrest.

Authorities say that all three suspects were then charged with two counts of Criminal Simulation, which is a Class E Felony for the attempted use of the fake credit cards at both Walmart and Dollar General in Smithville.

Police are warning other stores to be on the lookout for the scheme. They allege that the subjects pretended to use the fake card in the card reader and when that did not work, they gave the cashier the card and told her she needed to follow the instructions on the back. Instructions on the back of the card guide the cashier to run the transaction as cash, attempting to lead the cashier to believe it is going through as a credit transition when it is actually a cash transaction with no cash exchanging hands.

In this case, the cashier told the subjects she was not able to complete the transaction and took them to the Customer Service desk, and advised the Customer Service employee of the situation. The Customer Service employee then scanned the items and the subjects once again attempted the card in the card reader where it did not work. The subjects then stated they would attempt to get cash from the ATM machine.

After returning to the customer service counter, they advised the employee that they had called the card service number and were told to give the card to the employee and tell the employee to follow the instructions on the back of the card.

The savvy employee said that she could not do that and that all card transactions had to be completed through the card reader. The subjects then asked the employee if there was somewhere else in town that they could use the card and she advised that she did not know. The subjects then left the store.

After leaving Walmart, police say that the subjects attempted the same scheme at the Dollar General Store.

The three men may be facing possible Federal charges pending an investigation of the stolen checks. Through investigation it was determined that the checks found in the car were stolen from post office boxes out of state, and may stem from an armed robbery of a postal employee. All three subjects were also charged with Theft over $10,000 (being in possession of the stolen mail) a Class C felony.

Outside agencies from Kentucky and Ohio, as well as Federal Agencies, are all conducting investigations into these subjects due to matters occurring in their jurisdictions.

Chief Collins praised his officers and detectives who worked the case for being alert and arresting the subjects.