Bronx man nabbed in possible gift card scam at market

Markanthony Feliciano (Rochester Police photo)

COPYRIGHT2017© ROCHESTER - A man from the Bronx, N.Y., was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a possible fraud case involving the purchase of gift cards at The Ridge Market Basket on Farmington Road.

Police got a call around 2:30 p.m. from a Market Basket manager who said a man who had bought a large amount of gift cards on Tuesday was back in the store doing the same thing.

This time the credit card he was using to buy the gift cards was declined, and the manager called while the suspect was still at the customer service window, said Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas today.

As the man left the store on foot police were able to intercept him, and he was arrested on charges of driver's license prohibitions and falsifying physical evidence.

The falsifying physical evidence charge was for allegedly trying to ditch the credit card and driver's license he'd used at the store; the driver's license prohibition charge related to his alleged use of a fake driver's license while attempting to buy the gift cards on Wednesday.

Thomas said the Secret Service arrived later in the day on Wednesday to join the investigation and could very well take over the case in the future.

Thomas said he did not know the amount of gift cards that were successfully purchased on Tuesday or the amount the suspect allegedly tried to buy on Wednesday.

Markanthony (sic) Feliciano, 23, of 875 Morrison Ave., Apt. #16E, is being held on no bail pending an arraignment in Strafford County Superior Court later today.

Meanwhile, Felicano's vehicle has been seized by police who are applying for a search warrant.