A Levittown couple have been brought up on felony charges of three conspiracy counts, access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property for a rash of fraudulent purchases totaling over $3,200. Bristol Borough Police say.
Anthony Shinn, 61, and Sherri Jones-Shinn, 51, were taken into custody on August 15 by the Bristol Borough Police for the alleged shopping fraud.
According to police, the manager of 1-800-Got-Junk on August 5 at 9:20 a.m. reported a lost/stolen corporate credit card from one of their vehicles. The manager supplied police with a credit card statement for July 26 through August 1 and discovered that the card was used for two purchases at All Fresh on Pond St in Bristol on August 1 at approximately 3:48 p.m. Starting the investigation into the missing credit card on August 5, the police spoke with All Fresh management, who provided investigators with receipts for the two purchases. Within 28 minutes, the suspects amassed enough product to fill three shopping carts totaling a little over $1,000 which was paid by the lost/stolen card.
During the All Fresh transactions, a unidentified man arrived at the store taking two bags containing ground beef from the Shinns. He helped them with pushing the shopping carts of alleged fraudulently purchased groceries to a black Dodge Challenger, authorities said.
In a later interview with police, the unidentified man said he received a call from someone he knew and was asked to pick up a package from person(s) at checkout. He did as was asked and did not know the individuals in the store and refused to identify the location or person to where he delivered the bags, the affidavit alleges.
The couple were identified in a video surveillance footage provided by Giant grocery store on New Falls Road purchasing a little over $600 with the corporate card. The lost/stolen card was also used in transactions, on three separate days at the Wawa located on Levittown Parkway, totaling in all a little over $500, police said.
At the end of July, Mr. Shinn allegedly made purchases at Home Depot in Tullytown with the credit card totaling close to $1,000 for fencing and a “Milwaukee” 90 degree grinder. Video showed a red Ford pickup with Ms. Jones-Shinn and another man as passengers, according to the probable cause.
The police, on August 8, first did a traffic stop on the red Ford pickup in the Junewood section of Levittown. The couple were the only occupants in the vehicle. The officer advised them of the reason for the stop and the investigation, but they were cleared to go within 10 minutes. Later that day, police found the black Dodge Challenger at the 7-11 on Haines Road in Levittown with Jones-Shinn being the operator of the vehicle. While speaking with her, Mr. Shinn rode up on a bicycle. They were requested at that time to come to the police headquarters.
In an interview with police, Mr. Shinn said, he paid a man $300-$400 for the credit card. He admitted using it at All Fresh, Wawa and Home Depot, but denied being at Giant, police said in the affidavit.
Their preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for September 25, in front of Judge Frank W. Peranteau. They are currently free on unsecured bail of $30,000 and currently have no attorney of record, according to court papers.