In a shocking turn of events, authorities have accused Santos Gass, a nineteen-year-old from Austin, Texas, of stealing identities and using them to commit unauthorized credit card transactions.
Santos has been charged with two felonies: identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. It is reported that he used stolen identities to make purchases at three different banks, three different stores, and two different restaurants in the Austin area.
According to the arrest affidavit, the first incident occurred on July 23 when Santos allegedly used a stolen credit card number to purchase $250 worth of merchandise at a Kroger grocery store. He then allegedly did the same at Target and Walmart stores the next day, and finally at a Chili’s restaurant on July 28.
In each instance, Santos allegedly disguised himself by wearing a ski mask and a hoodie. He was also captured on CCTV at the stores and restaurant.
Santos is currently being held in the Travis County Jail with bail set at $50,000. He is facing up to five years in prison for the identity theft charge and two years in prison for the fraudulent use of a credit card charge.
Santos’ case serves as a reminder that identity theft and credit card fraud are serious crimes with serious consequences. It is important to be regularly monitoring your credit card statements to ensure that all the transactions are legitimate and to remain alert to any suspicious activity.
If you are a victim of identity theft or credit card fraud, you should contact your financial institution immediately to report the incident and receive assistance for any financial losses. It is also recommended to contact your local law enforcement authorities to report the incident to help prevent this from happening to others in the future.
