Trio arrested in credit card theft, fraud totaling more than $6K

Three people have been arrested in connection to a credit card fraud case in Collier County after a woman reported her wallet was stolen while she was shopping.

The Naples Police Department says the investigation began when they responded to a Home Good on 9th Street North on October 10. Officers say the victim was shopping when they realized their wallet had been stolen from their purse, which was in her shopping cart.

The victim told police she believed her wallet was stolen when she walked away from her cart to move bath mats that had been left on the ground in an aisle in front of her.

An investigation into the theft found that the victim’s credit cards had been used to buy $2,000 in gift cards and a $4,494 purse.

Collier County Sheriff’s Office detectives were able to determine what car the suspects were driving using surveillance video from the location of the theft and the locations where the credit cards were used.

The investigation also got surveillance video of a woman, later identified as Maria La Granja, 75, using the stolen credit cards.

On Monday, deputies were able to find the suspect’s car and detain the people that were inside. The car was registered to 42-year-old Jose Correa.

Deputies say Correa told them he was paid $150 a day to drive La Granja and Miguel Farias, 47, to Home Goods and other locations. Deputies say Correa also confessed to driving the two suspects to Home Goods for the same reason on at least one other occasion.

During a search of the car, deputies found a $7,000 diamond bracelet and an $8,000 ring they believe were fraudulently purchased. They also found several items, including clothing and cosmetics, with tags and no receipts.

Correa and Farias are facing charges of participating in organized fraud.

La Granja is facing a charge of participating in organized fraud and six charges of credit card fraud.

Collier County Sheriff’s Office detectives believe La Granja is part of an organized retail theft ring that operates out of Chile. They say Correa’s car has been tracked to locations throughout Florida and are working with other agencies to see if it matches the locations of other similar crimes.