Bradenton man caught using stolen credit cards to buy gas, police say
A man was arrested in Bradenton on Monday after using a stolen credit card to buy gas for the second time at the same location, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
Police say Sergio Gonzalez-Chinique, 26, was arrested on two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card in addition to two counts of petty theft, following two instances in which he used stolen credit cards to buy gas at the Walmart on Cortez Road. Additional charges are likely, according to a press release from Bradenton police.
The first incident took place on Oct. 17, and the second offense occurred Friday, Dec. 19, investigators say. Each incident involved separate stolen credit cards, police said.
On Oct. 17, Gonzalez-Chinique was found to have bought $150 worth of diesel gas at the Walmart on a stolen credit card, police say. The legitimate credit card owner had reported the 44 gallon purchase, and Detective J. Scanlan with the Bradenton Police Department began investigating, according to Meredith Censullo, the agency’s public information officer.
Walmart’s Loss Prevention Specialists began looking out for the truck due to the investigation, according to Censullo.
Walmart employees notified Scanlan that the man had returned after they saw his truck on the security cameras, and Scanlan watched as Gonzalez-Chinique bought more diesel, according to a news release.
The detective then conducted a traffic stop, and Scanlan determined that the man was using another stolen credit card to make the purchase, according to the Bradenton Police Department. The suspect was also found to be driving with an expired license as well, according to the release.
Gonzalez-Chinique was then taken into police custody, and the investigation is still ongoing, according to the release.
