Men indicted for allegedly using fraudulent credit cards to buy $5K worth of items at Beachwood Mall

CLEVELAND - A grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging two men with crimes related to their possession of approximately 55 fraudulently obtained credit cards used to buy more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from various places at Beachwood Place and Golden Gate.

"These men are accused of going on a shopping spree with fake credit cards," said Steven Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. "We all pay the price when people engage in theft like this, and this office will work with our partners to stamp out credit-card fraud."

James Gibson of Orlando, Florida, and Lansford Beuns, of Newport News, Virginia, were indicted on counts of conspiracy to commit access device fraud; use of unauthorized access devices; possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices and possession of device-making equipment.

The indictment charges that in December 2012, Gibson and Beuns possessed approximately 55 counterfeit credit cards.

The indictment further charges that Gibson and Beuns used the counterfeit credit cards and unauthorized access devices to purchase thousands of dollars of merchandise from various places in Beachwood and stores in Mayfield Heights.

Among the purchases identified in the indictment, which all took place on Dec. 1 or Dec. 2, 2012:

- Abercrombie and Fitch, 26300 Cedar Road, $258.
- The Buckle, 26300 Cedar Road, $336.
- Saks Fifth Avenue, 26300 Cedar Road, $1,729.
- True Religion Jeans, 26300 Cedar Road, $623.
- Best Buy, 1417 Golden Gate Boulevard, $3,027.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Sweeney, following an  investigation by the U.S. Secret Service.