Cops: Two charged in fraudulent gift card scheme

Two Brooklyn men who used fraudulent gift cards to purchase more than $80,000 worth of merchandise from several Target stores over a five-month span have been arrested on larceny and fraud charges, Nassau County police said.

Crimes against property squad detectives said Raymond Castillo, 28, of Cornelius Street, and Lancelot Davis, 25 of 48th Street, bought numerous gift cards from area Target stores using stolen or fraudulent credit cards. Then, beginning in November, the two used the gift cards to purchase electronics and other merchandise, causing Target losses of more than $80,000.

A department manager for the Target at 500 W. Sunrise Hwy. in Valley Stream recognized the two men buying high-end electronics and notified store security and police, according to reports.

The two were arrested April 16. Each was charged with grand larceny, a Class-C felony. Castillo also was charged with five counts of possession of a forged instrument, identity theft and defraud. Davis was charged with possession of a forged instrument and defraud.

They were arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead are due to return to court Friday. Arraignment information was not immediately available.