Four cruise ship guests were arrested at the Port of Miami earlier this month for attempted credit card fraud during their Bahamas cruise.
They were detained as they were getting off the bus and initially taken to the Miami-Dade jail.
The three men and one woman are accused of gambling in the casino on Cruise ship MSC Magnifica.
Ship security became suspicious and contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Further checks confirmed that fraudulent credit card use had been made when booking the cruise.
Four guests attempted to withdraw large cash advances using fraudulent cards
They were trying to steal cash for use in the casino. The suspects were Michael F. Emmanuel, Tyrisha Delgado, Quentin Marcellus Tuck, all in their 30s, and Devin Jones, 28. They face various fraud and identity theft charges.
Before returning to Miami, CBP officers asked their counterparts in the Bahamas not to allow them to land in Nassau.
The four-day cruise, which departed Miami on August 19, included stops in Ocean Cay by MSC Cruisesa private island in the Bahamas and Nassau.
The Atlantic City Casino on board the MSC Magnifica features slot machines, roulette and blackjack tables. Three different credit cards were registered for use in the casino but were declined due to suspected fraud.
The suspects’ phones were later searched and “numerous personal information” was found by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, raising suspicions of an organized fraud scheme.
All four pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $2,500 each. A court hearing is scheduled for September 23.
They are accused of participating in an organized fraud scheme, grand theft and credit card fraud. Emmanuel, Delgado and Jones are additionally charged with fraudulent use of identity.
Other criminals at sea
This is the latest in a series of credit card fraud cases on cruise ships. Last fall, four people arrested for credit card Fraud at the carnival party.
Last March Royal Caribbean passenger was arrested for amassing $22,000 using credit cards belonging to another person.
