Two men have been arrested on suspicion of racking up more than $14,000 on a credit card belonging to a Bayfield church.
Lucas Charles Gallegos, of Mancos, and Royce Kim Cowan, of Durango, are suspected of felony theft, identity theft and unlawful use of a financial transaction device, Durango police said.
The arrests stem from the theft of a credit card in September at the McDonald’s in Durango.
Lisa Prothero, an employee of Pine Valley Foursquare Church, accidentally left her purse at the McDonald’s, according to an arrest affidavit filed in La Plata County Combined Courts. She did not realize a Wal-Mart credit card belonging to Pine Valley Foursquare Church was among the items missing, and the card was not canceled.
In February, Sally Brennan, administrative pastor for the church, received credit card statements from Wal-Mart that totaled more than $14,700 in fraudulent charges from Jan. 12 to Feb. 8.
The charges included:
$3,092 at the Cortez Wal-Mart.
$2,289 at a Wal-Mart in Farmington, 1400 W. Main St.
$3,019 at a Wal-Mart in Farmington, 4600 E. Main St.
$19.30 at Sam’s Club in Farmington.
$6,309 at the Wal-Mart in Durango.