Sheriff's Detectives Make Arrests in Stolen Credit Card Case

Buellton - August 8th, 2008

In late July of 2008, Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies received a report from a Buellton resident whom in this case stated that an unknown person had fraudulently used a credit card belonging to him. The victim added that this unknown person used his credit card to obtain goods and services from business located in Buellton and Lompoc. The victim also advised that the person who opened the account used his social security number as a form of verification with the credit card company, when the card was activated in the beginning of July, 2008.

Information obtained from the credit card company regarding the cards activity led Sheriff’s Detectives to a local gas station in Buellton where surveillance footage was obtained, showing the suspects using the credit card. Through further investigation and follow up, Sheriff’s Detectives were able to identify the suspects as 47 year old Karen Peterson, and 49 year old Debra Mangino. Both Peterson and Mangino are residents of Buellton. The suspects in this case were at one point the victim’s neighbors, and at some time stole the victim’s mail and activated his credit card.

On Wednesday, August 6, 2008, both Karen Peterson and Debra Mangino were arrested for the unauthorized use of an access card and commercial burglary. They were booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail with bail revoked due to a pending court case.

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