Three illegal immigrants from Eastern Europe have been arrested in Texas for their alleged involvement in a $14 million gift card fraud scheme across several states.
Kristians Petroviskis, Romunds Cubrevics and Nurmunds Ulevicus were arrested by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC), are programmed into another, the cards were reassembled to appear new, without scratches, and placed back onto store shelves for someone to buy.
"As soon as it is activated and money placed onto that card, the criminals are now aware of it, but they now have the ability to transfer the money off of that card and onto another card where it is then cashed out or used to buy high-end merchandise," said Colby.
At the time of their arrest, authorities allegedly found more than 400 gift cards on them, authorities said. The trio targeted stores in multiple cities, including Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
They are charged with first-degree fraudulent possession of gift cards. Fox News Digital has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The arrest occurred at a time when fraud involving illegal immigrants and immigrant communities has been put under a microscope. In Minneapolis, federal authorities on Monday launched a massive investigation into child day care fraud.