2 Caught With Stash Of Fraudulent Debit Cards, Says Greenwich PD

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The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon in central Greenwich.

GREENWICH, CT — A pair of Bridgeport residents were arrested on forgery, identity theft and related charges Wednesday afternoon following a motor vehicle stop where police found a stash of re-coded debit cards in their possession, according to Greenwich Police Lt. John Slusarz.

The incident began at about 1:30 p.m. on Mason Street when an officer saw a suspicious person jump into a vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. After running the vehicle's license plate, the officer discovered that the vehicle's registration had been suspended so he pulled the vehicle over.

"The driver did not have a valid license and other violations, so the vehicle was going to be towed," said Slusarz. "That's when a search of the vehicle was conducted."

That search turned up the stash of 17 debit cards, according to Slusarz, and detectives were called in for assistance.

The detectives used a portable card reader on the magnetic strips of the debit cards and discovered that the strips did not match the numbers embossed on the front of the cards.

"The cards had been re-coded so that if they were swiped, someone else's stolen account would be charged," said Slusarz.

Arrested were Jonathan Lucena, 20, of Barnum Avenue, and Christina Harris, 25, also of Barnum Avenue. Both were charged with the following:

  • Payment card theft

  • Third-degree identity theft

  • Third-degree forgery

  • Illegal reproduction of a payment card

The two were released after each posted $1,000 bonds, and they are scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Dec. 26.

Photo: Christina Harris, left, and Jonathan Lucena. Photo credit: Greenwich Police Department

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