Walmart salesman accused of stealing identity information, buys iPhone
Collier County FL March 28 2021
A Walmart salesman stole a customer’s identity information who bought a new iPhone and opened a line of credit more than $800 in her name, Collier County deputies report.
Bobby DiMartino, 25, of Cape Coral now faces felony charges of fraudulent use of ID and grand theft.
On Feb. 9, the victim reported that someone applied for credit with phone companies in her name, the report states. She said she had gone to buy a cell phone at a North Naples Walmart in January. DiMartino, her salesman, took her license and other information and told the victim the cell phone she wanted was not available, she said.
The victim went to another Walmart the next day searching for a phone to find DiMartino behind the counter, according to the report. He said again that a phone she wanted was not in stock. The woman said she did not buy a new phone.
A credit denial letter from Sprint and a welcome letter from Verizon acknowledging a new account and the purchase of an iPhone 12 came to the victim in February, the report states. She also received the first bill of $818.
The victim told police she did not buy a phone or have credit with either phone company, according to a report. The Verizon bill provided the cell phone’s serial number and phone number associated with the fraud account.
When detectives began investigation, they found DiMartino was already arrested for similar crimes four days earlier, on Feb. 5. The cell phone number reported on the letter was listed in the DiMartino’s booking records.
Walmart provided video of the days DiMartino worked that the victim reported. Surveillance showed that as soon as the customer walked away from the counter, DiMartino bought a cheap $24 cell phone in a different name, then took the iPhone from a secure cabinet and activated it through Verizon but never paid, according to the report.
The phones were put in the same bag as he walked from the store. Video also showed that he was at the register filling out screens and swiping a card with no customers present.
Walmart Loss Prevention also found note pads with many people’s licenses, cell phone and Social Security numbers in DiMartino’s sales area, the report states.
DiMartino admitted to helping the victim and said she did not buy any phones, he said during an interview March 19, according to the report. He denies opening credit or taking the iPhone, claiming it was a computer glitch.
The report states that “as he was pressured for further information, he asked several times what he could do to not be arrested.”
DiMartino is charged with felony fraudulent use of ID, fraudulent obtaining credit over $300 and grand theft of $750-$5,000.
