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Two Cubans with legal residency in the United States were arrested in South Dakota after being linked to a large credit card fraud scheme operating in several Walmarts in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, local media reported.
The police arrested them after a pursuit on Interstate 29 and, upon searching the vehicle, discovered a technological arsenal used for cloning cards, reported Dakota News Now.
The individuals involved were identified as Yordany Cuervo and Dario Brito Permuy, both residing in Florida and holders of green cards.
According to Mitchell Now, the authorities are accusing them of executing a fraud scheme that allegedly impacted stores in Sioux City (Iowa and Nebraska), Sioux Falls, and Brookings, where multiple thefts and fraudulent transactions were reported on October 28 and 29.
What began as an alert for thefts at Walmart eventually led to an investigation involving several police departments. The key lead came when witnesses reported that the suspects had fled south toward Codington County.
According to a report from Watertown Current, law enforcement quickly released the description of the vehicle and managed to intercept it shortly thereafter.
Upon stopping the car, the agents found multiple credit cards, identity documents, two phones, and a computer. However, the real discovery occurred during the detailed inspection: more than 300 credit cards, 11 skimmers numbered from 1 to 12 (with the device number 4 missing), a card reader and writer, and homemade magnetic strips designed to copy financial information.
Researchers claim that the volume of the seized material demonstrates the scale of the operation, which would have allowed them to obtain hundreds of credit card numbers from unsuspecting customers. The two Cubans now face 66 counts of forgery, one for each card or device used as evidence.
Cuervo was able to post bail on Monday, November 24, after paying $25,000, while Brito Permuy remains in jail. Both pleaded not guilty and are awaiting a trial tentatively set for February 12, 2026.
The authorities remind that the accused are innocent until proven guilty. However, the case has raised concerns among customers and businesses in the region, where card cloning has become a recurring problem in recent years.
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