šØšļø TWO BRONX MEN ARRESTED IN MULTI-STATE NORDSTROM FRAUD INVESTIGATION IN PARAMUS šļøšØ
Two Bronx men were arrested at Westfield Garden State Plaza after allegedly using stolen information to open fraudulent credit accounts across four states. Police recovered over $5,000 in stolen merchandise, and both suspects are now facing identity theft and fraud charges.
PARAMUS, NJ ā Two Bronx men are facing multiple charges after Paramus police say they used stolen personal information to open fraudulent Nordstrom credit accounts and carry out purchases and merchandise returns across four states.
Authorities said Erik A. Lake, 30, and David M. Suliz, 29, were arrested Wednesday following a report of a suspected fraudulent merchandise return at the Nordstrom inside Westfield Garden State Plaza.
According to police, investigators determined the men were attempting to exchange merchandise that had allegedly been fraudulently purchased at a Nordstrom location in McLean, Virginia.
š Investigators allege the suspects opened multiple Nordstrom credit accounts using personal information belonging to several victims, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and Social Security numbers.
Police said the fraudulent accounts were then used at Nordstrom locations in Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
š Officers detained the suspects after they left the Paramus shopping center and entered a BMW. Police said Suliz was allegedly found carrying multiple fraudulent credit cards, while Lake allegedly had a Nordstrom gift card.
Investigators also reported finding more than $5,000 worth of merchandise believed to have been fraudulently obtained inside the vehicle.
The items allegedly included:
š¶ļø Chanel sunglasses š Coach purse š Vera Bradley bags and backpacks š Purple Brand shorts š Rag & Bone jeans
Both suspects were charged with credit card fraud, identity theft, making false statements involving credit cards, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
Lake and Suliz were lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending their initial court appearances.
āļø The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
š² Garden State News Network will continue to follow the investigation and provide updates as additional information becomes available.