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Airport checkpoint nabs gang with 518 stolen Wal-Mart gift cards
To balance out some of the negative TSA checkpoint stories, I'm always happy when we stumble across some positive stories from the airport. In this story, TSA agents at Nashville airport noticed something strange in the luggage of a passenger, and got the local airport police involved. Inside the suitcase was a stash of 518 Wal-mart gift cards. When police arrived at the checkpoint, six people were apprehended, but one of the gang members managed to escape and leave the airport. According to Nashville police, the gang used the Wal-Mart gift cards to act as "carriers" for stolen credit card information, and used the cards to purchase other gift cards. The total value of the stolen gift cards purchased could be well over $10,000.
The suspects have been charged with "conspiracy to commit fraudulent use of a credit card and conspiracy to commit identity theft". Because of the extent of their crime, Nashville police are working with the United States Secret Service on the investigation.
It just goes to show how stupid some criminals are - despite managing to find stolen credit cards, and being "smart" enough to fly all over the country to commit their crime, they didn't realize that the airport checkpoint agents may find their collection of gift cards a tad suspicious.
Check out these other great stories from AOL Travel
Filed under: North America, United States, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Shari Feb 8th 2010 10:47PM
Ah, let me guess... you aren't black by any chance?
Alice Baggadonuts Feb 8th 2010 10:55PM
Now someone will step in and rehabilitate the lil azzbags and give them counseling, free college educations, weight rooms and tv's in the slammer, dental, health care, etc. Yet your child who is good, didn't pop out kids like a clown car, worked after school will get nothing but an opportunity to be taxed to pay for these azzbags. So when will we as a country stop rewarding these criminals and actually reward the good kids?
Mark Feb 8th 2010 10:55PM
@dan
Since when is it the TSA's responsibility to report suspicious items when they do not in any way jeopardize the safety of the passengers and the crew of a flight?
@chuck w
I agree with dan.. The tsa's job is to look for explosive devices only.
Take just 30 seconds and think, you two. 512 credit cards would look on x-ray like a block of semtex. You think TSA isn't going to find out what that is? They're not looking for credit cards, but if you've got a brick-sized pile of them, then TSA is going to find out what's in that bag! Duh! And when they find all those credit cards, do you think they're going to just (wink, wink) say "have a nice flight?" They're federal officers for crying out loud! Credit cards may not be "what they're looking for," but if they find any contaband or evidence of criminal activity, they're sure not going to just look the other way!
Alice Baggadonuts Feb 8th 2010 11:10PM
So when we have taught the whole country that crime actually pays, there won't be a hard working middle class to tap for the therapy, expenses, scholarships for "disadvantaged" azzbags college educations. What then? It'll be the grossly wealthy and the grossly poor and I guarantee the "free ride" will finally stop.
If I go rob someone, I'll get 3 hots and a cot, clothing, health care on your dime, dental, education, a library, a weight room, free cable and be taught a new job skill. Then I might be eligible for a life skills program...(free group home while I get on my feet) If I don't rob someone, I might just get a spot on a bus bench in the cold with no help at all. When will the perps stop being treated as the victims? "Poor lil Bobby didn't mean to rape her, she was real pretty and his Mommy abandoned him at three. He didn't know that no means no."
lizbeth Feb 9th 2010 12:04AM
CRIMINALS are now off the streets! Anyone having a problem with THAT simple fact....there is something WRONG with your BRAIN!
Charles Queen Feb 9th 2010 12:37AM
Well,that was some very good work done by them.This is the first time though I'v heard of people doing this crime utilizing gift cards to hide the stolen credit card info.Well done I must say
Freelols.com Feb 9th 2010 12:29AM
Too bad none of those goons stole a get out of jail free card.
SpaceCadet51 Feb 9th 2010 1:37AM
Caryn -- Under your convoluted logic, anyone going through security carrying any sum of money or any credit cards should also be arrested as well, because this moneyor credit cards "might" be used to purchase items that theoretically could generate a terror attack. In addition, every American citizen and resident receiving a paycheck should also be arrested because federal income taxes are withheld from their checks, and a good portion of these income taxes go to purchase weapons which inflict terror on other countries and therefore lead citizens of those countries to plot terror in the US. Think about it. Duh.
ycav4424 Feb 9th 2010 3:57AM
They didn't say it those people were illegals. They are using the airlines more and more now days. They probably aren't allowed to question even the stay overs anymore unless they break a law.
KCG Feb 10th 2010 10:26AM
Having spent some 20 years in a airport police dept maybe I can help. Yes TSA's main roll is to search / look for items that may pose a threat to aviation, however if during that search they discover items that they deem to be suspicious such as 518 Walmart gift cards, they can contact law enforcement. Doe's a $100,000.00 in cash sewn into clothes pose a threat to aviation, maybe not directly, but is it suspicious to a reasonable and prudent person, yes. Can they contact law enforcement yes, and they do all the time. It's what they should be doing. TSA should have a close working relationship with the law enforcement agencys responsible for each airport and in our case we do. It is this relationship thats responsible for the seizure of drugs, illegal assets such as cash weather it is derived from drugs or other illegal activity, fraudulent documents and weapons. Its all about providing the best possible service for the community that we are all suppose to be looking out for.