3 charged with credit card fraud

By GREG KENNELTY
Staff Writer

HOWELL — Three New York residents were charged with committing credit card fraud at Best Buy, Route 9, on Nov. 6.

According to Howell police, officers were dispatched to Best Buy in response to a report of a suspected credit card fraud in progress at 8:02 p.m.

Police said the same three individuals who were subsequently arrested in Howell — Theodore Gaddy, 28, and James Petty, 35, both of Manhattan, and Antoine Melville, 36, of the Bronx — had attempted to commit the same crime earlier at a Best Buy in Manalapan.

One officer approached Melville and Petty in the parking lot of the Best Buy, while another officer found Gaddy in the store attempting to purchase an Apple Mac- Book for $1,804.99.

Police said Gaddy attempted to flee to his car after seeing the officer, only to see an officer at his car with the other two suspects. Gaddy then fled the scene, but he was subsequently apprehended by a K-9 unit and taken into custody.

Police said Gaddy was charged with resisting arrest by flight, credit card fraud, credit card theft, and using and exhibiting a false government document (a fake New York driver’s license). His bail was set at $17,500.

Police said Melville was in possession of a fake New York driver’s license and a fraudulent Bank of America Visa card. He was charged with credit card fraud and possession of a false government document. His bail was set at $12,500.

Police said Petty was charged with credit card fraud. His bail was set at $5,000. Petty had an outstanding warrant for his arrest from Paramus in the amount of $1,000.