A 22-year-old man who admitted purchasing over $500 worth of items using another man’s bank card was fined over $5,000 yesterday.
Steven Allen, Jr, was before Magistrate Kendra Kelly charged with several fraud-related matters after he used Chevron Rolle’s stolen debit card to obtain clothing valued at $514.94 from Shein and $70.95 worth of mobile top-up from BTC on November 24.
Allen also tried to obtain another $185.99 worth of clothing from Shein and $19.44 worth of service from Kraven Food and Beverage that same day.
In addition he attempted to purchase goods from Apple valued at $41.66 and obtain $6.65 worth of top-up from ETop-Up online November 25.
The 22-year-old is also accused of unlawful possession after he was found with two Scotiabank debit Mastercards in the name of Anna C Hanna and Eric M Storr on December 13 which officers believe were stolen.
Prosecutor Sgt Vernon Pyfrom told the court that around 10.30 am on November 24, Rolle reported to police he had received notifications from his bank regarding two transactions he did not make. The man subsequently froze the card but an hour later, was alerted to another purchase. This prompted him to check to see if his debit card was in his possession and discovered it was missing.
The court was told that police, armed with a warrant, searched Allen’s home where they found two debit bank cards in the closet.
Allen was arrested, cautioned and taken to the police station where he admitted to the offences.
Yesterday, Allen pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud, four counts of attempted fraud and two counts of unlawful possession. He told the court he was sorry and asked for leniency, adding he was willing to reimburse Rolle for the stolen funds.
Asked how he got Rolle’s card in his possession, Allen said he found the man’s wallet in the road.
As for the other cards in his home, the accused said they came into his possession after he was involved with an argument with a man known to him who he claimed owed him money.
In an effort to get his funds back, Allen told the court he made an attempt to take the man’s wallet which resulted in several cards falling on the ground.
“He picked up the cards but it was probably the same two cards that he didn’t end up seeing that were probably under the car,” he said.
After accepting Allen’s guilty plea, Magistrate Kelly fined him $5,600 and also ordered him to pay $585.89 as compensation to Rolle. He was told that failure to comply will result in two years in prison.
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