WEST BABYLON MAN INDICTED FOR FELONY THEFT AND POSSESSION OF STOLEN CREDIT CARDS

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Carl Francois, 56, of West Babylon, who is accused of stealing credit cards he allegedly took from numerous lockers located at two separate LA Fitness locations and using the stolen cards at stores throughout Suffolk County between January and February 2023.

“Getting out to the gym is tough without having to worry about someone taking your credit cards to go on a shopping spree,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The unsuspecting victims of these crimes assumed their valuables were safe, but they weren’t. As this indictment demonstrates, we treat these crimes seriously in Suffolk County.”

Francois is charged with eight counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, 31 counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, and one count of Petit Larceny, a Class A Misdemeanor.

According to the investigation, between January 8, 2023 and February 17, 2023, Francois allegedly stole 29 credit cards out of the gym lockers of 13 victims. The defendant was seen on video surveillance entering the LA Fitness locker rooms at two separate locations.

Francois was then seen allegedly a short time later using the stolen credit cards to purchase items such as gaming consoles, laptops, and power tools at several retail locations throughout Suffolk County including Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy. Francois faces a potential aggregate sentence of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years if convicted.

On March 29, 2023, at his arraignment on the indictment, Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro ordered Francois held on $25,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $200,000 partially secured bond. Francois is being represented by Eric Besso, Esq. His next court date is May 10, 2023.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Maria Troulakis of the Major Crime Bureau.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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