Rhode Island State Police Arrest Five New York Residents and Seize Over 250 Stolen Credit Cards During Motor Vehicle Stops in West Greenwich and Warwick

Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent, of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, announces the arrests of five New York residents and the seizure of over 250 stolen credit cards during motor vehicle stops on Route 95 in West Greenwich and Cranston.
On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, at approximately 2:30 PM, Troopers from the Hope Valley Barracks conducted a motor vehicle stop after observing a speeding violation on Route 95 North in the Town of West Greenwich. The operator was identified through his New York driver’s license as Roberto Carmona, age 24, of 8541 49th Street, Jamaica, NY. His passengers were identified as Yannick Dopwell, age 29, of 71 Essex Street, Elmont, NY and Chad Fortune, age 31, of 2311 Belmont Avenue, Elmont, NY. During the course of the stop, Troopers learned that Carmona and Dopwell had both recently been arrested in Virginia for using stolen credit cards to purchase $19,000 worth of merchandise.
Based on the occupant’s actions at the time of the stop and their criminal history, Troopers conducted a search of all the occupants as well as the vehicle. Troopers subsequently located and seized 180 fraudulent VISA credit cards which contained the names of either Dopwell or Fortune. Also seized were thirty-six Apple Store Gift Cards.
All were placed into custody without incident and transported to the Hope Valley Barracks where they were processed, held overnight and arraigned at Third District Court on the following charges:
Roberto Carmona was charged with Conspiracy to Obtain Money/Goods Under False Pretenses.
Yannick Dopwell was charged with: 1. Conspiracy to Obtain Money/Goods Under False Pretenses, 2. Obtaining a Credit Card Through Fraudulent Means
Chad Fortune was charged with: 1. Conspiracy to Obtain Money/Goods Under False Pretenses, 2. Obtaining a Credit Card Through Fraudulent Means.
All were held at the Adult Correctional Institution in lieu of $5,000 surety bail.

On Saturday, February 27, 2016, at approximately 10:40 PM, Troopers from the Lincoln Woods Barracks conducted a motor vehicle stop of an unregistered vehicle traveling on Route 95 South in the City of Cranston. The operator was identified through his New York driver’s license as Jonathan Meeks, age 23, of 185 – 11 North Conduit Avenue, Springfield Gardens, NY. His passenger was identified as Geraldy Beraud, age 22, of 11339 194th Street, Saint Albans, NY. A check of Meek’s license revealed that it was expired and he was subsequently placed into custody without incident. A search of Meeks resulted in Troopers locating and seizing forty-one (41) fraudulent credit cards from both VISA and MasterCard. Troopers also located and seized thirty-one (31) fraudulent credit cards from VISA and MasterCard on Beraud, who was then placed into custody without incident.
Troopers searched the unregistered vehicle and located twenty-one (21) prepaid VISA gift cards. Further investigation revealed that both Meeks and Beraud had used their fraudulent credit cards to purchase the gift cards at local Stop and Shop Supermarkets in Rhode Island.
Meeks was charged with: 1. Obtaining a Credit Card through Fraudulent Means, 2. Obtaining Money/Goods Under False Pretenses (Over $1500), 3. Conspiracy, 4. Driving on an Expired License.
Beraud was charged with: 1. Obtaining a Credit Card through Fraudulent Means, 2. Obtaining Money/Goods Under False Pretenses (Over $1500), 3. Conspiracy.
Meeks and Beraud were transported to State Police Headquarters, processed, and held overnight pending a morning arraignment by a Justice of the Peace before being held at the Adult Correctional Institution in lieu of $10,000 surety bail.
Any person convicted of Obtaining a Credit Card through Fraudulent Means is subject to a fine of no more than three thousand dollars $3,000, or imprisoned not more than three (3) years, or both.
Any person convicted of Obtaining Money/Goods Over $1500 shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both