The Rhode Island US Attorney charged six people of stealing more than 300 thousand dollars' worth of items from stores in Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts.
According to charging documents, the investigation into the alleged criminal operation began when a skimming device was found on a bank ATM in Newport.
Officials say more than 5 thousand EBT and bank cards were run through store systems through the use of skimmers.
US Attorney Zachery Cunha says that the six men and women are all from California and in this country illegally.
“The scale, scope, and brazen nature of these defendants’ scheme to steal the financial account information of unsuspecting consumers and use it to help themselves to funds and property, as we have alleged in federal court, is staggering,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha. “I commend the superb work of Homeland Security Investigations, as well as our local law enforcement partners, for their diligent and effective work to disrupt this ring of thieves, and ensure that those responsible face a reckoning in federal court.”
All six are being arraigned in federal court this week.
(Photo provided by RI US Attorney)