Police seek ‘mastermind' after finding 500 stolen credit cards

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Gastonia police are trying to find a man who they said is stealing credit card information and going on a spending spree.

They first arrested Michael Lashley in January. Detectives said they caught him and Ronnel Rice using credit cards they created to buy gift cards at a Gastonia Best Buy. The men were arrested for having 25 cloned credit cards, one belonging to a woman on Mooresboro.

This is a photo of Rice:

Reporter Ken Lemon spoke to the victim, who asked not to be identified. Police said the men made $1,000 worth of charges on a fake card with her real account number at the Lowe's in Gastonia.

Lemon asked police how it could happen and police said they did not know.

The arrest led to a deeper investigation.

Police discovered Lashley and Rice embossed the gift cards and turned them into realistic looking credit cards. Officers said the frightening discovery came when they conducted a forensic search of Lashley's laptop and found over 500 credit card numbers to legitimate accounts.  It was information that no one but credit card companies should have.

"T be honest, that's what scares us," Sgt. Nancy Capistran with Gastonia police said. "He obviously had a pool of numbers to pick from."

By the time they made the discovery and issued new charges, the men had posted bond and vanished.

"He is a very smart man and there is no doubt he is back at it,” Capistran said. "This is not his first rodeo."

Lashley is wanted on similar charges in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia. Gastonia police have asked for help from the Secret Service to learn how got those numbers.

This is a photo of Lashley:

Officers are looking for people who may know anything about Rice and Lashley.

They were at the Best Buy in Franklin Square on Jan. 13. Investigators believe Lashley is the mastermind and has already gotten more stolen card numbers and is charging again.

Police said Lashley ran his operation out of a car rented from New York.

"He has the ability to set up, shop fairly quickly," Capistran said. "He is very savvy."

Gastonia police have asked the Secret Service for help to try and find out how Lashley is getting access to the sensitive information. They said a lot of criminals have made this a full-time job.

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