Two Schoharie County men are among those arrested following an investigation into a series of phone larcenies at Walmart stores in Amsterdam, Cobleskill, and Gloversville.
Arrested were:
Aaron G. Billings, 23, of Schoharie; Eric M. Gieseler, 26, of Hagaman; Christopher Howland, 29, of Amsterdam; and David J. Stearns, 35, of Hagaman, all charged with three counts of identity theft first degree, a D felony; three counts of grand larceny third degree, a D felony; and three counts of falsifying business records first degree, an E felony.
Also arrested were: Jacob D. Litchfield, 19, of Richmondville, and Garett W. Levoy, 24, of Amsterdam; there were both charged with: two counts of identity theft first degree, a D felony; two counts of grand larceny third degree, a D felony; and two counts of falsifying business records first degree, an E felony.
In August, State Police were contacted by Walmart’s Asset Protection personnel in connection with more than $90,000 worth of iPhones missing from the inventory in their Amsterdam, Cobleskill, and Gloversville stores.
An investigation revealed that beginning in May, employees of OTS Wireless, a company used by Walmart to sell cell phone contracts inside their stores, were involved in a scheme to sell contracts and cell phones using fraudulent information.
Multiple times, Troopers said, Mr. Billings was provided stolen personal information by Mr. Howland.
Mr. Billings, and on some occasions, Mr. Levoy and Mr. Litchfield, then used the stolen information to set up cell phone accounts.
Once a fraudulent account was set up, police said, the phone would be picked up by Mr. Stearns, Mr. Gieseler, or an unidentified party, and the wireless account would be cancelled.
Police said Mr. Billings, Mr. Howland, and Mr. Gieseler all turned themselves into SP Fonda.
They were arraigned in Gloversville City Court and remanded to the Fulton County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
Mr. Levoy and Mr. Stearns were each located at their residence and transported to SP Fonda for processing.
They were arraigned in Gloversville City Court and remanded to the Fulton County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
Mr. Litchfield turned himself in at SP Fonda and was arraigned in Mayfield Town Court.
He was released in his own recognizance and was due back in court Monday.