The Major Case Bureau reports the details of an arrest for Grand Larceny and Possession of a Forged Instrument that occurred on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm in East Garden City.

According to Crimes Against Property Squad detectives, defendant Michael Richards, 25, of 51 Joan Court, Elmont, entered Bloomingdale, 630 Old Country Road, and attempted to purchase eight (8) $1000.00 gift cards and a pair of jeans with a Visa Debit Card. After an investigation the Visa Debit card had been re-encoded with account information stolen from another financial institution belonging to a female victim. A search incidental to a lawful arrest revealed that the defendant was in possession of five (5) additional re-encoded credit and gift cards. Further investigation led to the recovery of over 130 credit and gift cards that were also re-encoded with fraudulent bank account information.

Defendant Richards is being charged with 1 count of Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, 18 counts of Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd Degree and 1 count of Identity Theft 1st Degree. He will be arraigned on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at First District Court, Hempstead.