Homeless Man Charged for Using Found Credit Card to Buy Smokes, Scratch Tickets

A homeless man who used a woman’s credit card he found on the ground near Washington Square on Sunday is facing fraud charges.

Newport police said Frank T. Michaels, 52, was caught trying to use a card at Leo’s Market on Broadway at around 1:25 p.m. on Sunday.

According to a police report, the clerk was suspicious when Michaels presented the card to pay for three boxes of Newport cigarettes and four scratch tickets. 

After making the $67.70 purchase, Michaels left the store and the clerk soon got a call from the card owner who said that she got an alert on her phone from the credit card company that a charge over $50 was made at the store.

A short time later, Michaels came back to the store, which is when the clerk called police.

Police said an officer dispatched to the store immediatley recognized Michaels from prior contact with police. Michaels initially said the card belonged to a friend, but later admitted that he found it on the ground. He later blurted “well, I did it” as he was being booked at police headquarters.

Michaels was held overnight for arraignment Monday morning in Newport District Court