Tuesday, January 23, 2024
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MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024
GIFT CARD CRIME RING INDICTED FOR ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY LINKED TO COLLEYVILLE VICTIM
On Friday, January 19, 2024, four criminal associates were indicted on multiple charges related to cloning Walmart gift cards. These charges include Fraudulent Possession/Use of Credit or Debit Card (Counterfeit Card), Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Theft of Property >=$2,500<$30k, and Money Laundering >=$2,500<$30k.
On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, Colleyville Police Officers took a Theft Report regarding an elderly Colleyville resident who sent a $100.00 Walmart gift card to a friend in Louisiana, but when the friend attempted to use the gift card a week later, it had a zero dollar balance. The number embossed on the gift card did not match the number on the gift card authorization receipt.
The next day, the assigned Colleyville Detective contacted our partners with Walmart Global Investigations (WGI), and the WGI Investigator quickly discovered the victim’s gift card was re-encoded (or cloned) to match an entirely different Walmart gift card; the victim’s $100 was spent by a male suspect at two other Walmart locations in Tarrant County to purchase beer and a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Less than one week later, the Colleyville Detective learned about another local victim who purchased a $50 Walmart gift card for a fellow church member, but that it had no balance when the recipient attempted to redeem it a few days later.
Colleyville Detectives, WGI Investigators, and the United States Secret Service (USSS) immediately partnered with one another in an effort to identify who was involved in this crime, and bring justice to these victims. Towards the end of July, Investigators confirmed 42-year-old Geandy O’Reilly placed cloned Walmart gift cards on the display stands inside Walmart stores and used the victim-loaded balance on the cards for his personal gain. In 2022, O’Reilly plead guilty to similar criminal offenses, and was sentenced to 36 months probation. After this investigation, Walmart implemented new safety measures to help prevent future incidents.
In the weeks after opening our investigation, this investigative team conducted surveillance of the suspect, his accomplices, and their activities. Investigators learned O’Reilly would travel to Walmart locations across Texas and commit these crimes while his associates acted as lookouts. O’Reilly typically spent the victims’ money within a few days of the gift card activation to buy: $2,500 worth of lobster tails from Sam’s Club, $5,708 worth of jewelry, $3,322 worth of large screen TVs, $5,645 worth of kitchen appliances, and much more. Colleyville Detectives made contact with fifteen (15) victims in The Dallas-Fort Worth area, with the number of total victims exceeding 1,000.
On Friday, September 29, 2023, the Colleyville Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, and local law enforcement agencies near O’Reilly’s residence, arrested 35-year-old Anisel Matososa, 56-year-old Ernesto Mato, 42-year-old Geandy O’Reilly, and 42-year-old Mayluis Novoa; all were charged with Fraudulent Possession/Use of Credit or Debit Card (Counterfeit Card), Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Theft of Property >=$2,500<$30k, and Money Laundering >=$2,500<$30k.
Subsequent to these arrests, Investigators executed a search warrant of O’Reilly’s residence and associated vehicles. Notable items seized during this search warrant were:
• 6,975 Walmart Gift Cards
• $3,181 in US Currency
• 2 Card Reader Writers
• 50 cases of Modelo Especial beer
• 38 cases of Corona Extra beer
• 1 Laptop Computer
• 6 Cell Phones
• Other Fraudulently Obtained Items (6 Flat Screen TVs, Computer, PlayStation 5)
Evidence on O’Reilly’s cell phone led investigators to other crime rings committing similar crimes in multiple states across the country. In conjunction with state and local authorities in those states, some suspects have been arrested for offenses associated with cloning gift cards, while other investigations are still pending.
Colleyville Police Chief, Michael C. Miller, said, “This complex, multi-state gift card fraud investigation started because a vigilant Colleyville resident noticed discrepancies with a gift card they purchased, and decided to call the police. With over a thousand victims, and almost 7,000 fraudulent gift cards seized, this investigation was truly massive. I’m proud of our team who worked hand-in-hand with Walmart Global Investigations on this case. We also collaborated with state, local, and federal partners to identify suspects in Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Tennessee, and we remain committed to pursuing criminals who victimize our community, regardless of where they may live.”
All arrestees are currently in custody at the Tarrant County Jail.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sgt. Dara Nelson
682-362-0086
pdpio@colleyville.com
