Crime & Safety

Eddie Merlot's Manager Accused of Using Diners' Credit Card Numbers to Fund Disney Trips

Lincolnshire police continue to try to locate people who may have been victims of Alexander Pera's alleged offenses, multiple sources report.

Police are working to identify people whose credit cards were compromised after dining at Eddie Merlot’s, an upscale steakhouse in Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire police arrested restaurant manager Alexander Pera, 26, of Chicago, who was charged July 2 with aggravated identify theft, identity theft and money laundering, ABC 7 reported. 

Police allege he stole more than $50,000 from diners and employees to fund multiple trips to Disney World, the Daily Herald reported. 

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A Lincolnshire police investigator told the Daily Herald that the department was alerted by police in Florida after Pera made more than 15 Walt Disney World reservations during a five-month period and took two Disney cruises. The trips were paid in part with gift cards and prepaid credit cards obtained with stolen credit card numbers, police told the newspaper.

An Eddie Merlot's official acknowledged the situation on the restaurant's Facebook page Tuesday after a customer suggested that other patrons check their credit card statements.

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"We hate this situation and are fully cooperating with authorities. If anyone believes they were a victim, they should go straight to the police," a restaurant official wrote in response.

Eddie Merlot’s patrons whose credit cards were later compromised or who were victims of identity theft are asked to call Lincolnshire police at (847) 913-2349, CBS 2 reports.

While the investigation was underway, Lincolnshire police held a public seminar titled, "Scams, Fraud, and Identity Theft” at the restaurant in June. That program focused on the prevention of mail, telephone and Internet scams, Patch reported.

Eddie Merlot's Lincolnshire location opened in October 2012.


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