Gilbert couple arrested for gift card fraud

GILBERT, AZ - A Gilbert couple is accused of running a fraudulent credit and gift card operation that cost victims and businesses thousands of dollars.

Officers arrested 37-year-old Christina Smith and her live-in boyfriend, 36-year-old Soloman Williams, at their Gilbert home near Williams Field and Lindsay roads early Wednesday.

Officers say Smith and Williams were making fake gift cards and using them at Macy's department stores across the Valley.  The couple also reportedly sold the cards online.

Investigators say victims have come forward in numerous states, along with Macy's and Home Depot stores and several U.S. Banks.

The fraudulent transactions date as far back as 2006, but the couple stalled their operation and then started back up in 2008.

In March 2010, with the help of Macy's Loss Prevention, investigators began to close in on the couple.

During a search of their home, detectives reportedly found credit card making tools including an embossing machine, credit card magnetic stripping,  rolls of security labels, blank credit card stock, and computer hardware to write to the magnetic stripping.

Smith faces 13 charges of credit card theft, forgery of a credit card, possession of credit card device along with defraud and forgery.

Williams is charged with eight counts of forgery of a credit card, possession of a credit card device, forgery and fraudulent schemes.

Both are now being held at the Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail.

Initial losses are at $15,000, but detectives say the financial impact will be much higher.