NYC pair tried to make fraudulent phone purchase, police allege

MIDDLETOWN >> A man from New York City and another from upstate New York were arrested over the weekend after Middletown police say they tried to fraudulently buy a phone from a local store.

Taj A. Barnes and Trevor L. Coburn, both 26 and from Queens, New York, were arrested Jan. 21 after a complaint at Verizon Wireless, 955 Washington St.

Middletown officers responded to the store at about 1:45 p.m. that day on a report that someone might be trying to commit fraud. Police found Barnes and Coburn in a car with Florida license plates in the store’s parking lot. Both men were detained while officers investigated; they reportedly found the car had been rented out to Coburn.

Barnes allegedly gave officers a different name but police couldn’t find a record of that name in New York or Connecticut.

The clerk at the Verizon store said Barnes had come in Dec. 30 and had purchased an iPhone. During that transaction, the clerk said Barnes had identified himself by his real name and had shown an ID with that name on it.

The clerk said the credit card Barnes provided had to be entered manually because the magnetic strip didn’t work.

Barnes reportedly had told the clerk the card had been water damaged. But after Barnes left, the clerk became suspicious and thought the card might have been altered or fabricated.

When Barnes came back to the store Jan. 21, he gave the clerk a different name and presented a Pennsylvania identification card. When the clerk went to get a manager, Barnes reportedly became very nervous and had fled by the time the clerk came back out to the showroom floor.

Barnes was later identified from a New York state driver’s learner’s permit and his fingerprints.

While police were speaking to Barnes, they allegedly noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the car. They say they found a small bag of marijuana in the center console, which Barnes said belonged to him.

Barnes, who lives in the Jamaica section of Queens, was charged with attempting to commit fifth-degree larceny, interfering with police and possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana. He was released on $5,000 bail and is to appear Jan. 30 in Middletown court.

Coburn, who lives in the Rosedale section of Queens, was charged with conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny. He was released on $2,500 bail and is to appear Jan. 30 in Middletown court.