Four Chinese nationals accused of placing altered gift cards at the St Matthews Kroger have been indicted for operating a criminal syndicate.
The indictments follow a string of arrests this year by St. Matthews Police at the same Kroger store.
In total, the six men police arrested may be part of an international criminal effort.
Federal investigators have been tracking Chinese gangs using gift card fraud to fund their operations by stealing the money loaded onto a tampered gift card once the cards have been activated.
Kroger is now putting in more anti-fraud measures to protect customers. The gift card displays now include locking pegs on high-value cards.
Meanwhile, local and federal investigators continue to track this nationwide problem. A Jefferson County grand jury indicted four Chinese nationals for operating a criminal syndicate and attempting to steal $1 million. Police arrested them with over 600 gift cards. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
A fifth man seen tampering with gift cards at the St. Matthews store and one in Clarksville is waiting for a preliminary hearing after being caught with more than 1,100 altered cards.
A sixth man arrested in May pleaded guilty and was put on probation in California for the next four years.
Source: WAVE
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