Mail Tribune News - Federal prosecutors take over theft ring case

Document text

Federal prosecutors take over theft ring case Federal authorities will prosecute a Medford man who was arrested in February on charges of theft and credit card fraud. Local charges against Howard Fu Wong were dismissed Monday because a federal organized-crime unit wants to consolidate a number of cases involving Wong and other defendants, according to Jackson County Deputy District Attorney Karen Loomis. The cases stretch from San Francisco to Portland, Loomis said. She described Wong as part of a theft ring that travels the Interstate 5 corridor, using stolen or counterfeited cards cards to purchase merchandise like laptop computers and camcorders. "We believe he's part of a big organization," she said. Medford police identified Wong as the suspect behind a 90-minute shopping spree Jan. 12 in which four Medford stores were bilked of computer and video equipment valued at $6,400 and bought with fake MasterCard and Visa cards. Wong was on probation for aggravated theft. He was arrested after reporting to his probation officer. "There's no stopping this guy," Loomis said. "He just keeps going up and down the freeway." Mail Tribune Copyright �  The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA