Chilean National Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison for Cross-Country Credit Card Theft Spree

ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Tuesday sentenced a Chilean national who went on a cross-country crime spree involving stolen credit cards to 75 months in prison.

During the spree, Rene Arviso Velasquez, 51, stole purses or bags containing credit cards and then quickly used the cards to buy gift cards or other items. On Aug. 25, 2024, Velasquez stole one victim's Lululemon belt bag, which was hanging from her seat at a Cottleville, Missouri restaurant. Less than an hour later, Velasquez used her credit card to purchase five Visa gift cards and a pack of salted nuts for $1,031. Later that day, Velasquez stole a different victim's purse at a Brentwood restaurant and used her credit card to buy $1,445 worth of gift cards. On Nov. 3, 2024, Velasquez stole a woman's wallet at a St. Peters restaurant and charge five Visa gift cards and a Pepsi for $1,035.

Velasquez stole at least $40,000 from victims in the St. Louis area and across the country.

Velasquez, who has used the names Miguel Antonio Carrasco-Gomez and Henry Diaz, was living in Tarzana, Calif., but is a Chilean national.

Velasquez pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three counts of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.