Home Depot cashiers charged with making fraudulent credit card transactions, police say
Frederick D. Harris, Jr., 22, of Baldwin, and Steve D. Kerr, 21, of Springfield Gardens, Queens, were arrested on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, at the Home Depot in Hempstead where they worked and charged with grand larceny, police said. Credit: NCPD
Two cashiers at a Hempstead Home Depot were arrested Tuesday after an investigation uncovered more than $200,000 worth of fraudulent credit card transactions processed over a three-month period from June 21 to Aug. 17, police said.
Frederick D. Harris, Jr., 22, of 726 Brook Court, Baldwin, and Steve D. Kerr, 21, of 140-40 184th St., Springfield Gardens, Queens, were each charged with third-degree grand larceny after their arrests by Hempstead police at the store on Fulton Avenue.
Harris also was charged with first-degree defraud.
Both face arraignment Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.
Nassau County police said the two, while employed at the store, conducted "numerous fraudulent credit card transactions" using stolen information, then, along with still-unidentified suspects, purchased Home Depot and Visa gift cards -- causing the store to lose more than $200,000.
It was not immediately clear how many transactions were processed or how many others police believe to be involved in the alleged scheme.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
Sarra Sounds Off: Suffolk Hall of Fame Class of 2026 On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," the Suffolk Hall of Fame class of 2026, former NFL Quarterback Mike Buck and Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week. Credit: Newsday
Sarra Sounds Off: Suffolk Hall of Fame Class of 2026 On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," the Suffolk Hall of Fame class of 2026, former NFL Quarterback Mike Buck and Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week. Credit: Newsday
