COURT HOUSE –– The Middle Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police and numerous other law enforcement agencies recently concluded a four month investigation into the theft of American Express cardholder information, that was transferred onto blank gift cards and used to purchase more gift cards from Wawa convenience stores throughout the state.

A total of 13 stores were targeted during this time and an estimated $34,000 in gift cards were obtained.

Investigators then began to link details of the case together that ultimately led to the arrest of four subjects linked to the crimes.

In short, Byron Green allegedly was illegally obtaining the cardholder information from an unknown source then, encoding (electronically placing cardholder credit on a new card) gift cards.

Green would then escort the three females to the 13 Wawa stores where obtained new cards with the fraudulent cards. The purpose of this was to place stolen credit on gift cards that did not require proof of ownership (laundering the credit information).

Green would then give each of the three girls, a percentage of the value of the cards, and kept the remainder of the proceeds.

The United States Secret Service and the Baltimore County Sheriff’s Department then entered the case and assisted with locating Byron Green in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was arrested for the cases in New Jersey.

The case remains under investigation for the fraudulent activity in surrounding states.

Lakisha Lawson and her mother, Veronica Alston, turned themselves in to investigators at the Woodstown Barracks of the New Jersey State Police, in January 2008.

Each Wawa store is a victim and all four defendants will be charged with credit card fraud related charges and conspiracy to commit the fraud of each store separately.

On February 19, 2008, Kathleen Fisher turned herself in at the state police Woodbine Barracks to be processed on all charges completing the arrests and charges of all involved parties in this case.

This case was developed and coordinated by law enforcement agencies at the Federal, state and local level.

Members of State Police Troop “A” Headquarters, the State Police Fugitive Unit, and the Cape May County Prosecutors Office provided support throughout the investigation.

Bail information for the accused is as follows:

• Lakisha Lawson’s charges were put on a $15,000 bail by Middle Township police.
• Veronica Aiston’s charges were placed a summons by Middle Township police and the state police.
• Kathleen Fisher was placed on a $175,000 total bail from various agencies.
• Byron Green was placed on $300,000 bail from various agencies.

The were all charged with 13 counts of three 3rd degree crimes:

• Fraudulent use of credit cards
• Theft by deception
• Conspiracy to commit credit card fraud

Lawson and Fisher were released on their on recognizance after turning themselves in to police.

Green was placed in the Baltimore County Jail upon his arrest and was then extradited by the Cape May County Prosecutors Office back to this county’s jail.

Green has since posted his bail.

Detective Chris Scott of the New Jersey State Police, Woodbine Barracks, and Detective Rich McHale, Middle Township Police, were the lead investigators in the case.

Below are the Wawa stores affected in New Jersey:

Nov. 26, 2007
• Wawa #459 13:38 $4,177.06 Rt. 45, Woodstown
• Wawa #446 14:03 $100.00 Rt. 40, Elmer (Veronica Aiston shows ID)
• Wawa #924 14:40 $3,842.68 Rte 47, Vineland
• Wawa #720 15:08 $3,428. 18 E. Main Street, Milivifle
• Wawa #759 15:42 $3,339.55 Route 47, Dorchester
• Wawa #470 16:08 $3,029 77 Route 47. Dennisville
• Wawa #432 17:14 $2,951.25 Avalon
• Wawa #465 17:48 $4,699 34 Ocean View (Suspect vehicle tag obtained)
• Wawa #946 18:20 $550000 Rio Grande (Photo Array)

Nov. 29, 2007
• Wawa #366 17:00 $3,668.30 West Hampton
• Wawa #328 17:10 $0 Rt.206, South Hampton (Suspect vehicle tag obtained)
• Wawa #957 17:30 $0 Rt. 38, Lumberton Total NJ Losses: $34,736.13