Police say Michigan men commit money card scam in multiple Kentucky counties

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green Police Department is conducting a fraud investigation.

Police were contacted by the Elizabethtown Police Department that multiple subjects committed a scam at Hardin County Walmart locations.

The subjects are alleged to have input money into registers to purchase and load money cards. The subjects were able to cancel the transactions, retain the money, and retain funds loaded to the money cards. This resulted in a loss to the businesses.

Police were provided a vehicle description for the suspects. The vehicle was located in Bowling Green at the Walmart on Morgantown Road. As police arrived, the subjects exited the business and entered their vehicle.

The officer identified the subjects as Cordell Barnes, 29, and Byron Gaskin, 33, of Detroit, Michigan.

According to a citation, an officer searched Barnes and Gaskin and found $2,560 and a money card. Police also searched the vehicle and located multiple money cards, a large sum of US currency, and bags of marijuana. Receipts from Walmart locations throughout Kentucky were also located. The receipts were consistent with the alleged scam.

The officer spoke with the business and confirmed thefts of over $2,000. The suspects allegedly committed the scam at both Bowling Green Walmart locations.

Barnes and Gaskin were arrested and are each charged with engaging in organized crime, theft by deception-include cold checks $1,000 < $10,000, receiving stolen property $1,000 < $10,000, possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia – buy/possess. Barnes and Gasking are considered fugitives with no warrants required.

Barnes and Gaskin are lodged at the Warren County Detention Center.

The investigation into the alleged scam is ongoing in Hardin and Warren Counties.