Theft and Fraud Incidents This Weekend May be Related

The following arrest information was supplied by the . It does not indicate a conviction.

On Saturday, July 9, 2011 Police were dispatched to the Giant Food Store at 1055 Bustleton Pike at about 2:46 p.m. for a report of two individuals suspected of using stolen credit cards. The lost prevention worker at Giant reported to police that the two suspects were getting into a white Honda bearing a New York license plate and exiting the parking lot of the store and heading toward Bustleton Pike.

Arriving officers observed the vehicle and activated the emergency lights and sirens to try to stop the vehicle. At this time, officers observed the passenger door open and gift cards were thrown from the vehicle. The vehicle failed to stop at a red light at Bustleton and Bridgetown Pike and fled east bound on Rose Street. The vehicle finally came to rest at Rose Street and Heights Lane.

The defendants were identified by their New York driver's licenses; the vehicle driver was Brittney Gilliams, 21, and the passenger was Jasmine Cox, 20. They both matched the physical description given by the complainant. They were also identified as the actors by in-store security cameras.

The complainant reported that Gilliams and Cox entered the store together and made separate purchases. Cox attempted to buy three $100 Visa gift cards, Tilex cleaner and rice totalling $341.93 with a stolen credit card; the transaction was declined. Gilliams purchased three $100 Visa gift cards, pull-up diapers and greeting cards totalling $335.52 with a stolen credit card. They then left together in the white Honda.

A search incident to arrest revealed numerous credit cards and gift cards in the defendents' names. They were taken to Middletown Township Police Station to be live scanned and processed. The white Honda was impounded and secured at the Lower Southampton Police Station until a search warrant could be obtained.

On Sunday, July 10, 2011 Police were dispatched to the Citizens Bank located at 105 E. Street Road within the Acme supermarket on a report of a male attempting to cash a check with a false identification.

Sergeant Montalbano was the first officer on the scene and spotted the male who was later identified as Dashawn Lynch, 28 of Brooklyn, exiting Acme. Lynch's clothing matched the description given by the bank teller.

Police spoke to both the bank teller and another bank employee who both positively identified Lynch as the actor. The bank teller stated that Lynch approached the counter and requested to cash a Citizens Bank check made out to Horacio Rodriguez in the amount of $2,435.61, which was allegedly issued by Bagel Boy Inc. of Lawrence, MA. The teller asked for identification from Lynch per the bank's policy; she was provided with a New Jersey driver's license with the name Horacio Rodriguez assigned to it.

The teller told police that she felt it was suspicious as she's Puerto Rican and Lynch was presenting a license with his picture on it with a Hispanic name of Rodriguez, but appeared to be African American to her. She also reported to police that she received an e-mail earlier in the day from the Newtown branch that advised all Citizen Bank branches to be on the look out for counterfeit checks issued by Bagel Boy, Inc. An additional security check revealed the license presented by Lynch was not valid due to the lack of a security hologram.

Lynch was taken into custody without incident and searched incident to arrest. He also possessed two credit cards on his person with the name Horacio Rodriguez attached.

Police asked Lynch for his name and date of birth to positively identify him. A record check via New Jersey Department of Motor vehicles came back as no record found for Horacio Rodriguez.

Police advised Lynch that he was under arrest and would be subsequently processed in order to learn his real name. Police again asked him what his name and date of birth were. Lynch again stated that his name was Horacio Rodriguez, but he was unable to correctly spell Rodriguez and he gave police the wrong date of birth according to the ID he provided.

Lynch was transported to Bensalem PD to be processed and live scanned; police report that Lynch continued to lie to police with regard to his name in the presence of Bensalem officers. Live scan results confirmed Lynch's real identity.

While on scene, police learned that another Citizens Bank check in the amount of $2,451.89 was cashed inside the Acme in Bensalem. The check was from Bagel Boy Inc. out of Lawrence, MA and made out to Horacio Rodriguez.

Lynch was arraigned before Judge Wagner at the Bensalem Police Department with his bail being set at $100,000. He was charged with attempted theft, attempted theft by deception, access device fraud and false ID to law enforcement. Lynch was sent to Bucks County Prison.

Police reported that Lynch may be related to Cox and Gilliams, but will need to investigate further. They also reported that it was suspicious that all parties were out of New York with the same exact types stolen, altered and counterfeit credit cards and gift cards.

Police also reported that it's possible these defendants are a part of "a larger ring of individuals committing multiple crimes in Bucks County the past few days." The Bucks County Prison was contacted in order to learn the names of any individuals or vehicles associated with the posting of bail for the defendants.

For questions about this blotter, email nicole.jenet@patch.com.