Miami, FL - A man has been arrested for using a lost credit card to make nearly $800 worth of unauthorized purchases during a shopping spree at a South Florida mall.
Police say Diego Antonio Fernandez-Morales, 23, was apprehended by Doral police on Tuesday after being accused of going on a shopping spree at the Miami International Mall using a woman's lost credit card, which he obtained while working at The Charging Station kiosk inside the mall.
Fernandez-Morales allegedly made unauthorized purchases totaling nearly $800, resulting in multiple felony charges.
According to police, the incident occured when the woman lost her debit card around 3:30 p.m.
Shortly after, unauthorized transactions began to occur, including approximately $30 at a paleta shop, around $17 at a waffle shop, $25 at a hot dog shop, and a significant $450 at a shoe store within the mall.
Fernandez-Morales is also accused of spending $246 at a store named Quick Repair and approximately $25 at Veronica Accessories.
The investigation took a turn when an employee at the shoe store recognized Fernandez-Morales as an individual who worked at the mall.
Notably, the purchases were made less than an hour after the woman misplaced her card.
Furthermore, the paleta shop employee identified Fernandez-Morales due to the proximity of The Charging Station kiosk.
Fernandez-Morales faces eight felony charges, including six counts of fraudulent credit card use, one count of criminal use of personal identification, and one count of third-degree grand theft.
A Miami-Dade judge set Fernandez-Morales' bond at $20,000 during a court appearance on Wednesday.
However, the accused Venezuelan national remains in custody due to an immigration hold.
The immigration authorities have requested further investigation and processing related to his immigration status.