Authorities in Ontario County have arrested three individuals in connection with a grand larceny case at Eastview Mall, where stolen credit cards were used to make thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. The suspects are also tied to a similar crime in Pennsylvania, officials said.
On February 14, Ontario County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a stolen wallet complaint at the Walmart in Victor. Surveillance footage led investigators to a suspect vehicle, which was later located at Eastview Mall. The individuals inside the vehicle—Karina Echegaray-Polo, 28, Josue A. Fernandez, 27, and Jose Alberto Ortiz-Pariona, 33—matched descriptions of the suspects in the theft.
Following the wallet theft, the suspects allegedly used stolen credit cards at Lululemon, Apple, and Best Buy, racking up more than $2,000 in charges. The case took on a broader scope when police in Silver Springs Township, Pennsylvania, contacted the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office about a nearly identical crime the day before, involving the same suspects and vehicle. Pennsylvania authorities issued arrest warrants, leading to additional fugitive from justice charges.
The investigation deepened after another wallet was reported stolen at TJ Maxx in Victor on February 15. The suspects used the victim’s credit cards at Apple and Best Buy, making purchases totaling $5,952.28. During the arrest, Echegaray-Polo allegedly attempted to flush stolen credit cards down a toilet, resulting in an additional charge of tampering with physical evidence.
The three suspects, all from Paterson, New Jersey, remain in custody as authorities continue their investigation into possible connections to other thefts.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].