According to detectives from the Nassau County Police Department, three Long Island men are responsible for a Home Depot gift card scam totally approximately $28,800. The gift card scam occurred throughout Home Depot stores in Nassau County. Police arrested the three men in Uniondale at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to detectives, Nicholas Scuro, 25, of Massapequa, Kurt Walther, 22, of Wantagh, and Husam Elghonami, 24, of Levittown, would steal various items at Home Depot stores in Nassau County and return the items to receive debit/gift cards credited with the price of the returned items. The defendants would then sell the credit cards to a pawn shop for cash.
The Home Depot gift card scam was discovered through an investigation that took place from Sept. 13, 2013 to Jan. 22, 2014.
Prior to the arrest of the three men this week, detectives observed the men carrying out the larceny, selling the gift cards and using the proceeds to purchase substance believed to be heroin.
The three Long Island men now face charges of grand larceny in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The defendants face arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead today.
[Source: Nassau County Police Department]
Photo courtesy of hattiesburgmemory, via Wikimedia Commons.