Merrillville man charged with fraud in Walmart TV purchase

HOBART | A 26-year-old Merrillville man committed fraud by using a stolen credit card to purchase a TV from Walmart, police said.

Derrick W. Howard was charged Thursday through Lake Superior Court with one count of fraud and two counts of attempted fraud.

Police were contacted Feb. 3 by a Walmart worker who said a man she identified as Howard had picked up a 55-inch television valued at $1,281 two days earlier.

The TV had been prepaid with a Visa credit card, she told police.

Even though the numbers on Howard's credit card didn't match those on the purchase, she decided to let him leave with the TV because it had been prepaid, court documents state.

The owner of the credit card, when contacted, said he didn't know Howard and had not given him permission to use his credit card to buy a TV from Walmart, court documents state.

Police said Howard twice went back to Walmart and attempted to pick up additional TVs using the same credit card, which had been flagged.