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February 28, 2007

Update: Suspects in Stop & Shop scheme still held

CRANSTON -- The four men charged in the Stop & Shop pinpad scheme continue to be held at the Adult Correctional Institutions today, according to a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office.

Authorities allege that the men are responsible for stealing at least $115,000 from customers at the Tiogue Avenue Stop & Shop in recent weeks in a complicated scheme involving fraudulent pinpads and duplicate ATM cards.

A District Court judge set their bail at between $150,000 and $200,000 yesterday, and the men have not posted bail today, attorney general spokesman Michael Healey said this afternoon.

Prosecutors previously said the men were from California but only today released what are believed to be their full addresses:

-- Mikael Stepanian 28, of 4213 Whitsett Ave. #2, Studio City, Calif.
-- Arman Ter-Esayan, 22, of 13001 Debby St., Valley Glen, Calif.
-- Gevork Baltadjian, 20, 7321 Quartz Ave., Winnetka, Calif.
-- Arutyun Shatarevyan, 20, 4422 Melbourne Ave. #6, Los Angeles, Calif.

The men were arraigned yesterday in Kent County District Court on three felony charges: computer fraud, theft using a computer and conspiracy, and a misdemeanor charge of computer trespass. The felony charges each carry a penalty of up to five years in prison.

State and federal authorities continue to investigate whether the men are responsible for similar pinpad thefts in various other cities across the country.

A pinpad is the device used by customers to pay for goods with a debit or credit card that requires entering a PIN, or personal identification number.

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 4:47 PM | Permalink

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