2 Michigan men arrested for alleged road-trip fraud
CRANBERRY TWP — Police arrested and charged two men from Michigan Thursday who were allegedly on a lengthy road trip to commit fraud.
“They were parked on the street and were asleep at the time,” said Cranberry Township Police Lt. Chuck Mascellino. “Cranberry (Township) has a no-street-parking ordinance.”
As of Thursday, Larry Travis, 18, of Canton, Mich., and Kody Andrews, 19, of Detroit, were being held in Butler County Prison on multiple felony and misdemeanor fraud and identity theft charges. Both men had an individual bond set for $25,000.
Mascellino said police received a tip from a caller who described a vehicle parked “in excess of an hour” on Timberwood Drive, according to Mascellino.
According to charging documents, police found and checked out the 2020 Toyota Camry, where they found Travis in the driver seat and Andrews in the passenger seat.
“Upon making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, I observed a marijuana blunt in plain view in the center console, and the interior of the vehicle smelled of burnt marijuana,” said the investigating officer in the affidavit.
Police said in addition to the blunt, they also found a small amount of marijuana inside Andrews' coat pocket. Police also found two unemployment benefit debit cards that were not in the name of either man.
Mascellino said Travis and Andrews were taken to the station for interviews.
According to the documents, the men told police they were traveling to intercept a fraudulently acquired credit card that was being delivered by UPS to a home on Timberwood Drive.
The documents said an unknown actor in Detroit was providing tracking updates to the pair of pickup men.
“Both Andrews and Travis were to be compensated $1,500 each upon delivery of the fraudulent credit card to John Doe,” said the officer in the affidavit.
Police said they made contact with the men before they could steal the credit card being shipped to the local address.
Mascellino said the victims involved in the case were not residents of the township.
“They were not even Pennsylvania residents,” he said.
Travis has been charged with three felony charges, including two counts of access device fraud and a related conspiracy charge. He also was charged with misdemeanor identity theft and possession of marijuana.
Andrews shares all but one of those charges. He has been charged with one less felony access device fraud charge.
Both men were arraigned Wednesday night by District Judge David Kovach.