Ohio man arrested, charged for credit card fraud

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An Ohio man was arrested Sunday and charged with 12 felonies for a string of fraudulent purchases in Mount Pleasant, according to a news release.

Thomas E. Coates Sr., 43, of Westerville, Ohio, allegedly used a stolen credit card number to purchase gift cards at local businesses and bought several electronic devices in hopes of selling them for profit.

“With the stolen credit card, he’d buy, like, eight $100 gift cards,” said Dave Sabuda, public information officer for the Mount Pleasant Police Department. “He was buying things with a quick turnover, like Playstation 3s, Xbox 360s and (Nintendo) Wiis.”

He has been charged with eight counts of possession and three counts of attempted use of a fraudulent financial transaction device, and one count of attempted false pretenses of more than $1,000, but less than $20,000. Each count is a felony and punishable by up to five years in prison.

Coates also has been charged with two misdemeanors for driving with a suspended license and attempted false pretenses of more than $200, but less than $1,000.

He reportedly used the stolen card at Meijer, 1015 E. Pickard St., and Kmart, 2125 S. Mission St. According to the release, Kmart’s management provided police with descriptions of the suspect and his vehicle. Officials at Meijer and Kmart declined to comment.

The stolen credit card had been reported for fraudulent use, which helped police apprehend Coates. Police are unaware who the credit card belonged to or how Coates obtained the number.

“The cards at the original stores were being denied,” Sabuda said. “The person probably realized their card had fraudulent activity and reported it.”

Coates’ bond was set at $140,000.