Deputies seize fraudulent credit/debit cards during traffic stop

BCSO release
Posted 10/4/18

BAY MINETTE -- A Florida man is facing multiple charges after Baldwin County Sheriff’s deputies found more than 50 credit/debit cards in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop Tuesday, Oct. 2 on …

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Deputies seize fraudulent credit/debit cards during traffic stop

Credit/debit cards seized during a routing traffic stop on Interstate 65 on Tuesday.
Credit/debit cards seized during a routing traffic stop on Interstate 65 on Tuesday.
Posted

BAY MINETTE -- A Florida man is facing multiple charges after Baldwin County Sheriff’s deputies found more than 50 credit/debit cards in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop Tuesday, Oct. 2 on Interstate 65, north of Bay Minette.

According to a BCSO release issued Wednesday, Sheriff’s deputies became involved with an investigation after a traffic stop was conducted on a 2007 Ford F-350 near the 42-mile marker on Interstate 65, approximately five miles north of the Gulf Shores Parkway exit.

The driver of the F-350 was identified as 37-year-old Eunelio Joaquin Blancos-Puga of Miami. While talking with Puga, deputies observed things that made them suspicious of criminal activity.

Puga consented to a search of his vehicle and during that search approximately 50 Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit/debit cards were discovered. During the investigation deputies confirmed that some of those cards contained encoded data that was different from what was printed on the cards.

Puga was arrested and charged with possession of a forged instrument, trafficking in stolen identities and possession of a forgery device. He is being held in the Baldwin County Corrections Facility on a $30,000 bond.

Deputies followed up on this investigation and determined that the same truck was stopped in the Gulf Coast Region in September of this year. That traffic stop resulted in a seizure of approximatley150 fraudulent cards and encoding equipment.

“We are working with our state and local partners along with federal law enforcement agencies on this case,” according to a BCSO release issued Wednesday. “This case is still under investigation and more details may be released when it is prudent.”