Three Convicted in Supermarket 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.