The Bethlehem Police Department have arrested four employees of Golden Town Buffet Hibachi & Sushi in Glenmont after obtaining a search warrant for an investigation involving identify theft.
On Monday, Aug. 5, police executed the warrant at the restaurant on Route 9W. Police said the investigation found that the credit and debit card information of some customers had been compromised.
Police said Heng Li, 27, of Brooklyn, was allegedly found in possession of a credit card skimming device and a counterfeit Michigan license. Authorities are now trying to determine how much information can be found on the device.
Also arrested were Min Chen, 47, and Zhi Yun Lui, 39, who both listed the restaurant as their address, and Qiaimin Zheng, 18, who is listed as homeless. All three were allegedly found to have outstanding federal deportation warrants and turned over to federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further action.
Detective Sgt. Adam Hornick said the investigation began after the department received numerous reports of unauthorized purchases on their bank statement for both Golden Town Buffet and other retail locations.
A Selkirk woman, who asked not to be identified, said she canceled her credit card after she noticed there were two unauthorized charges for $3 and $5 on the same day.
She was visiting the restaurant with her friends on Tuesday, Aug. 6, with all of them expressing they will continue visiting the business.
`We just feel that it is a shame for such a nice, new place to have a black mark,` she said. `I still intended to frequent the restaurant and hope everything blows over.`
She said the restaurant `needs to screen their help a little better` and she never noticed `anything suspicious` while eating at it.
Bethlehem police obtained a search warrant to look for evidence at the restaurant after speaking with other local law officials over the last several weeks about other complaints from residents in neighboring towns.
According to court documents, Hornick asked Li on Monday where he obtained the skimmer device from.
`A lady in city,` Li replied.
The detective then asked how many people’s information was stolen. Li said `lots.`
Hornick also asked if the number was around 10 to 20 people. Li said `No, more like 50 to 100 or more.` Hornick asked if that information was on the device at the time of Li’s arrest, and Li replied `yes.`
Hornick said the device seized has the capability to store the information for about 500 to 1000 people. Authorities are now attempting to get a search warrant for the device.
The information was being used to make small purchases at Golden Town Buffet and large purchases, such as gift cards, from other establishments.
Li was charged with felony counts of criminal possession of a forged Instrument in the second degree, scheming to defraud in the first degree, and misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of a skimmer device and unlawful possession of personal identification information in the third degree. Li was also charged with having an outstanding federal warrant for deportation.
Police are asking anyone who went to the eatery between June 15 and August 5, and paid by credit or debit card, to check their bank statements and immediately report any fraudulent transactions.
Hornick said the skimmer used was not inserted into the restaurant’s credit card machine, but was something Li could hold in his hand. Police are warning customers to not let their debit or credit cards out of their sight when dining out and to keep an eye on their bank statements.
Police said the owners of the restaurant are cooperating with the investigation. Golden Town Buffet is still open, but only accepting cash at this time.
Li was arraigned in the Town of Bethlehem Justice Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail without bail. Heis scheduled to return to Bethlehem Court on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m.
The Bethlehem Police are being assisted in this investigation by the Albany Police, Colonie Police, New York State Police New Scotland, New York State Police Clifton Park, East Greenbush Police, US Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security.
Police said the investigation is still active and more information will be released as soon as it becomes available. Further charges are pending.
Spotlight reporter John Purcell contributed to this story.