Costco employees report fraudulent credit card transactions totaling more than $60,000

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by Amy Nilson , August 29, 2014

30-year-old Geino Earl Gosey Jr., A.K.A. Tran Viet Quoc, faces 16 charges under PC 530.5(a), Felony possession of identity through the use of a credit card, and grand theft under PC 484-487(a).

In Sept of 2013, Gosey, with another man – Jermaine Brewer, were found to be in collusion with each other using the same identifiable information to illegally obtain American Express Cards from a victim at a Costco store, under the aliases Sean Hayes and Eric Smith, just moments from each the other’s purchases. The two suspects had both purchased SLR Cameras exceeding $3000.00, along with other items totaling $2000.00 or more. Under the law both suspects had conspired to commit the same crime under PC 530.5(a), PC 459 – burglary, and PC 484 (g) – fraudulent use of a credit card.

It was found that earlier, in March of 2013, Gosey had entered three separate Costco stores and had purchased items worth thousands of dollars with stolen American Express credit cards. Costco Loss Prevention Employees reported that Brewer and Gosey had been purchasing items using fraudulent credit cards throughout the Bay Area. It was undetermined how Gosey and Brewer had obtained the stolen credit cards.

The real Geino Earl Gosey Jr.?

In April of 2013, Vallejo police were seeking the identity of a person suspected of credit card fraud and identity theft at their local Costco store, located at 198 Plaza Drive. Further investigation revealed that Gosey was a former employee of Costco, and was identified by two co-workers who had worked with him in the past in Hayward. They were able to recognize and identify Gosey from recent security alert photos used at Costco stores throughout the Bay area.

Loss Prevention investigators were able to determine that Gosey had set up three separate accounts and used three separate identities in order to commit fraud. Brewer and Gosey had gone to Vallejo, San Francisco, Foster City, Redwood City, and Santa Clara County Costco locations in order to purchase high-end items with the fraudulent credit cards. The total loss, by more than 17 victims, was more than $60,000. In March of 2014, Gosey forfeited a $20,000 deposit for his release after having his $200,000 bail revoked.

The Solano District Attorney’s Office has allowed the Santa Clara County Superior Court to handle the procedings in order to help consolidate the case and evidence collected against Gosey.

Brewer has pleaded guilty to all 16 counts in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. However, Gosey has yet to plea, and is awaiting his next court date on September 17 in Dept 35 at 1:30 PM in the San Jose Hall of Justice.