A Geauga County senior citizen has been the victim of credit and debit card theft, with a contractor they hired for home repairs accused as the perpetrator. Chester Township police reported that Alejandro Rangel Moreno, 35, allegedly stole and used the senior citizen's card in numerous fraudulent transactions amounting to over $8,300, as confirmed in multiple reports, including Cleveland19 and FOX8.
Moreno's alleged misuse of the card spanned across Cleveland, Ohio City, Brooklyn, and Columbus, with close to 14 separate transactions recorded. According to the Chester Township police, Moreno was strategic in his spending, sometimes donning a mask as a method to obscure his identity while making the purchases. He now faces a litany of charges, including theft, identity theft, the misuse of credit cards, and receiving stolen property. In addition, Moreno's immigration status is being scrutinized by federal authorities, reported Cleveland19. Moreno is a Mexican national.
Diligent investigative work by local detectives led to Moreno's arrest after authorities executed search and arrest warrants at his residence in Cleveland. "Through diligent investigative work, Chester Township Detectives identified Moreno and his unauthorized spending activity using the victim’s bank card, leading to his arrest without incident," detailed a news release, as mentioned by FOX8. Subsequent to his apprehension, Moreno was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond post his Nov. 5 arraignment.
While awaiting a preliminary hearing on Nov. 14, Moreno's case, due to the felony charges, is expected to be presented before a Geauga County grand jury for consideration of indictment. Chester Township police's Facebook post, highlighted by News 5 Cleveland, pointed out the video surveillance that captured the suspect in the act, attempting to hide his face behind a mask during these illicit expenditures.
