Crime & Safety
Cranston Woman Pleads Innocent to Jewelry Theft
Chanthavy Vann, 22, of Cranston, was charged in connection with the use of fraudulent credit cards to buy $7,000 worth of jewelry at the Emerald Square Mall.
A 22-year-old Cranston woman pleaded innocent to charges stemming from her arrest in an alleged fraud scheme involving a stolen credit card to buy $7,000 worth of jewelery from the Emerald Square Mall.
The Sun Chronicle reported that Chanthavy Vann, 22, blamed Samuel Whiteside, 29, of Dorchester, Mass., for the crime and said she was told to buy the jewelry using a fake Texas driver's license and credit cards "under duress."
Whiteside allegedly told Vann to "shut up" when store security and police confronted the pair as they were walking out of the mall.
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Police said the duo bought $1,900 from Kay Jewelers and $5,000 from Zales, giving fake names at each store.
Whiteside said Vann is responsible for the crime and was simply walking out of the mall with Vann when store security descended upon them.
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Vann, who has no criminal record, was released on $500 cash bail. Whiteside, who has a lengthy criminal record, is being held on $7,500 cash bail. He also has warrants out of Brockton, Mass., and Providence.
The two will return to court Feb. 6.
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