Feds called into probe of high-tech theft in Newton Falls

By Ed Runyan

Anyone with information about the men’s activities in the area is urged to call police.

NEWTON FALLS — Three Queens, N.Y., men are in Trumbull County Jail after Newton Falls police arrested them Saturday night on charges that they were involved in a high-tech theft ring using prepaid credit cards.

Thierno O. Wann, 32, Mamadu A. Balde, 37, and Manadou A. Diallo, 24, were arrested after a clerk at the Circle K store on East Broad Street called police at 9 p.m. saying that Balde used three different credit cards to pay for items before one of the cards came up listed as stolen.

Balde was still in the store when an officer arrived. Later, police located a Chevy van containing Wann and Diallo and arrested all three men after discovering evidence in the van suggesting what they were doing.

Inside the van, police found 21 credit cards, 26 cartons of Newport cigarettes and gift cards for various stores valued at $1,250.

Detective Ian Litherland said Diallo entered the store first and used a prepaid credit card to purchase several items, including cigarettes. Balde came in after that to use cards in a similar manner, Litherland said.

It is believed that the three had found a way to load a credit card with information from someone else’s credit card that would enable them to pay for items with someone else’s money, Litherland said.

They were able to do this by using a device that encoded the magnetic strip on the card with a number from another person’s account, Litherland said.

Receipts found in the van indicated that the men had worked the scheme in Poland, Masury and Warren and in areas outside Ohio since July.

The police department notified federal authorities, and several federal agencies are joining in the investigation to determine whether the men are part of a larger enterprise, Litherland said, adding that the arrest in Newton Falls appears to be just the “tip of the iceberg.”

Each man was charged with between four and 11 counts of receiving stolen property and misuse of a credit card, all felonies.

When they appeared in Newton Falls Municipal Court on Monday, they were ordered to be held without eligibility to make bond until their next hearing at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19.

Litherland urges people who may have information about the men’s activities elsewhere in the Mahoning Valley to call their local police department.

runyan@vindy.com