Brownwood News – The Brownwood Police Department recently issued a press release regarding the arrest of three individuals suspected in credit card fraud. According to the release, on Sunday, September 30th, at approximately 9:10 a.m., Brownwood Police Officers were called to the Food Plaza convenience store located at 2800 Hwy 377 South for suspicious activity.
Store personnel believed several suspects parked in a vehicle at one of the gas pumps were tampering with or placing a “skimming” device on the pump. Skimming devices are covertly installed on gas pumps and ATM machines by criminal suspects to collect credit card information from customers. This information is then used to compromise the customer’s account leading to unauthorized charges.
Upon arrival, Officers made contact with three suspects who were in a 2007 yellow Dodge truck. During the course of the investigation, property including a laptop, cell phones, credit cards, a drill and other evidence was seized. The investigation and evidence seized at the time confirmed the suspects were involved in a skimming device scheme.
The following suspects were arrested at the scene and booked into the Brown County Jail:
Rolando Dominguez, H/M, 31 years of age from Austin
Livan Delgado, H/M, 31 years of age from Dallas
Rose Patricia Hernandez, H/M, 36 years of age from Austin
They have been charged with Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument or Mechanical Device (2nd Degree Felony) and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (State Jail Felony).
This is an active, ongoing investigation. The Brownwood Police Department continues to work with many different agencies on this investigation including the United States Secret Service, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Brown County District Attorney’s Office, and local financial institutions.
“Skimmers are a common fraud scheme occurring across the United States,” said Brownwood Police Chief Terry Nichols. “Unfortunately we are not immune from this type of crime in Brownwood and Brown County. We are very fortunate however that we live in a community where citizens will speak up when they see something suspicious and recognize abnormal behavior,” Nichols added.
Anyone who has questions or doubts about whether their credit card has been compromised should contact the financial institution who issued the card. Anyone who believes they are in fact a victim and unauthorized charges have been made against their account should contact the Brownwood Police Department.
