Trumbull County man arraigned on charges of fraud, identity theft

Hunt, an Army recruiter, is accused of running up bills totaling $1,008.

STAFF REPORT

GREENVILLE, Pa. — A Niles, Ohio, man is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 6 before Magistrate Ruth French on charges of access device fraud, identity theft and theft.

Nicholas Hunt, 23, turned himself in to Greenville police and was arraigned Thursday before Magistrate French.

Bail was set at $25,000, but Hunt was released on his own recognizance, said Jeremiah Christner of the Greenville police.

Hunt is a recruiter in the Army’s Warren, Ohio, recruiting office.

Christner, who investigated the case, said Hunt is accused of running up bills totalling $1,008 on a credit card for which he applied online, making his estranged wife, Michelle Hunt, of Greenville, the responsible person and making himself the only one authorized to use the card.

Mrs. Hunt was contacted Jan. 16 by the credit card company for nonpayment, and she reported the matter to police the next day.

Christner said he contacted the credit card company’s fraud division, which closed the account.

Christner said charges were filed against Hunt on March 8. Access device fraud is a third-degree felony, and the identity theft and theft charges are both first-degree misdemeanors.

Hunt’s preliminary hearing will be at 1 p.m.