Apple Valley Man Allegedly Buys Jewelry, Metro Transit Rides With Stolen Credit Card

An Apple Valley man was still in jail Monday after police say he allegedly used a woman's lost credit card to purchase more than $450 in jewelry, clothing, Metro Transit trips and television service, and also sold some of the merchandise.

Ben Cullom Jr., 44, is charged with felony financial transaction card fraud, the maximum penalty for which is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, were called to an Apple Valley bar on Jan. 17 on a report of attempted credit card fraud.

A bartender told police a man had tried to use a credit card with a woman's name on it, but the card was declined, the complaint says. The clerk had kept the woman's card.

When police contacted the woman, she said she had lost her card the day before and her bank had contacted her about possible fraudulent charges on the card, including almost $250 in jewelry, $85 for a Metro Transit purchase and almost $90 to a satellite dish network, the complaint says.

Two attempted Metro Transit charges for $205 were declined, the complaint says.

Police found Cullom walking with his girlfriend near his Apple Valley apartment, the complaint says. They allegedly found receipts with the last four digits of the woman's credit card number on them, including one for the jewelry purchase and one for a pawn shop sale of $75, which appeared to be for the same jewelry, police said.

They also found a receipt for clothing, and allegedly found the matching clothing in a suitcase Cullom had with him.

Cullom allegedly denied doing anything wrong, but later said he would plead guilty to the incident.

As of Monday, Cullom was being held on $50,000 bond without conditions, or $15,000 if he has no contact with the alleged victim or businesses, doesn't leave Minnesota and makes future court appearances.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 14 in Dakota County District Court.