Friday, January 2, 2009

Eight Arrested in Ring Targeting Police Credit Unions

Via Chicago Breaking News -

Police have arrested eight people in a two-month-long investigation of at least $150,000 in credit card fraud against members of two police credit unions, officials announced late Tuesday.

The fraud ring, which involved seven employees of Chicago-area retail stores, hit 140 accounts at Illinois State Police Credit Union and the Chicago Patrolmen's Credit Union, according to Illinois State Police. The ring operated out of Crestwood, although most of those arrested were from Chicago, according to a police press release.

The investigation involved state police, the U.S. Secret Service, the Illinois attorney general's office and the Chicago Police Department, according to police. Police did not identify the retail stores involved, but corporate security for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., also assisted in the investigation, according to the release.

The ring involved seven employees of retail stores who either bought merchandise fraudulently or helped other people buy goods fraudulently. Investigators began their probe after people with accounts at the two credit unions found out someone was making fraudulent purchases on their cards, according to police.

Seven people were arrested by state police Tuesday morning, and one more Tuesday night, police said. Each was charged with one count of theft and one count of wire fraud, class three felonies that carry up to five years in prison.

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