Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/332945
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested two Orlando men who allegedly used cloned credit cards to buy high-end electron- ics and gift cards, the office has reported. A deputy observed an Acura drive into the Walmart parking lot on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota on June 12 and park at the far west- ern end of the lot, a news release says. The passenger, later identified as Ralph Brutus, exited the vehicle and entered the store while the driver, later identified as Jeff Nezius, moved the Acura closer to the garden store entrance, the release continues. The dep- uty contacted a store loss prevention staff member, who reported that Brutus tried to buy a $369 iPad Mini, but his credit card was declined, the release adds. Nezius also entered the store and bought two gift cards for $250 apiece, the release says. When the deputy approached the men, "he could smell marijuana coming from the vehi- cle," and Nezius admitted they had "two grams," the release continues. Nezius emp- tied his pockets and removed about 30 credit cards, it adds. "Brutus had four credit cards with marks that appeared to be from rubbing names and numbers" off the fronts of the cards, it says. At this time, Nezius is charged with Trafficking in Counterfeit Credit Cards and Brutus is charged with Principal to Trafficking in Counterfeit Credit Cards. However, the inves- tigation is continuing, the release notes. TWO ORLANDO MEN ARRESTED WITH ALLEGEDLY CLONED CREDIT CARDS Ralph Brutus/Contributed photo Jeff Nezius/Contributed photo Sarasota News Leader June 20, 2014 Page 88