North Country pair arrested for credit-card fraud of $3,700

CARTHAGE, N.Y. — The New York State Police last Friday announced the arrest of Caitlyn R. Lockwood, age 29 and Taylor J. Ballou, age 28, following a two-month investigation into their alleged fraudulent use of several credit and gift cards totaling more than $3,700.

 The State Police say that on April 17, they were contacted by a complainant who stated that she accidently left her purse at a Walmart store on April 16 and discovered “numerous fraudulent transactions on her credit cards.”

 On Thursday, State Police investigators charged Lockwood, of 24639 County Route 42, Carthage, with three counts of 2nd degree identity theft, a felony; three counts of 4th degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony; and four counts of petit larceny, a misdemeanor

Ballou, of 22639 County Route 42, Carthage, was charged with two counts of 1st degree identity theft and one count of 2nd degree identity theft, both felonies; two counts of 3rd degree criminal possession of stolen property and three counts of 4th degree criminal possession of stolen property, both felonies; and two counts of petit larceny, a misdemeanor.

Lockwood and Ballou were arraigned in the town of LeRay court and remanded to the Jefferson County Public Safety Building in Watertown on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com