St. Thomas Man Arrested for Fraudulent Boat Engine Purchase
Alvin V. Battiste III, 29, was arrested in St. Thomas for allegedly using two different credit card numbers to fraudulently purchase a boat engine from Off Shore Marine. The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) reported that Battiste was charged with two counts of grand larceny, one count of receiving goods obtained through fraudulent credit card use, and one count of interfering with an officer performing his duties.
The investigation by the VIPD’s Economic Crime Unit began after a complaint was filed on August 21. Detectives discovered that Battiste had manually entered two different credit card numbers to purchase a 70-horsepower boat engine, valued at $10,346.35. Further investigation revealed that Battiste was not authorized to use either credit card. One card was registered to a resident of California and the other to a Florida resident.
For more details, visit the Virgin Islands Free Press.
Unable to post the $20,000 bail, Battiste was taken into custody by the Bureau of Corrections. At his advice of rights hearing, the court upheld the $20,000 bail amount. Battiste remains in custody as he has not yet posted bail.
Read More News:
- 13-Year-Old Girl Arrested for Middle School Shooting Threat in Palm Coast
- Innocent Man Arrested Due to Clerical Error by Fort Myers Police
This case highlights ongoing concerns about credit card fraud and its impact on businesses. Law enforcement agencies continue to focus on combating such crimes, particularly as they become more prevalent in the digital age.