Three Convicted In PIN-Pad Scheme

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Three foreign nationals who flew in from Los Angeles pleaded guilty last week to a scheme to alter the PIN-pads at point-of-sale machines in Stop & Shop supermarkets, which drained more than $130,000 from accounts at four area credit unions and banks.

The three confessed to replacing PIN-pad terminals at the check-out lanes at six area Stop & Shops and replacing them with skimmers, which were used to glean credit card PINs, then drain cardholders accounts. As they entered the stores, one of the suspects would distract a clerk while the others swapped terminals-in as little as 12 seconds. Several days later they returned to the stores and replaced the original terminal, making off with the skimmers and the account information.

The three, and a fourth accomplice, were arrested Feb. 26 while they were engaged at the Stop & Shop in Coventry. The fourth accomplice is still awaiting trial. The scheme drained more than $100,000 from Citizens Bank customers, and $10,000 from members at Coventry CU and $5,000 from members at Centreville CU.

The three who pleaded guilty are: Arutyun Shatarevyan, Gevork Baltadjian and Arman Ter-Esayan.