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Philadelphia police officer accused of using credit, debit cards of detainees

Charles Jacoby stole credit cards and debit cards in order to pay for personal expenses.

By Robert Moran, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: October 12, 2011

A Philadelphia police officer was charged Tuesday with using debit and credit cards he stole from people who were jailed, federal prosecutors said.

Charles Jacoby, 30, was charged in a criminal information with one count of wire fraud related to a debit card transaction in April at a Wawa store in Philadelphia. Being charged by criminal information means Jacoby likely will plead guilty.

Jacoby, a 10-year veteran of the force, was assigned to the 22d District as a patrol officer and cell block attendant, federal prosecutors said in the information. His duties included safeguarding personal items taken from people recently arrested and jailed.

From January until April 5, Jacoby allegedly stole debit and credit cards from people who had been jailed.

"In determining whose debit and credit cards to steal, defendant Charles Jacoby targeted individuals who, in his opinion, had acted rowdy or disruptive," prosecutors said.

After stealing the cards, Jacoby drove to the Wawa to buy gas or goods for himself, prosecutors said. He then destroyed the cards that he used.

On April 6, Jacoby used a debit card to make a $67.28 purchase from a Wawa, prosecutors said. That purchase is the basis for the wire-fraud count.

If Jacoby is convicted, the maximum prison sentence would be 20 years, although he would receive much less if he has agreed to plead guilty. The maximum fine would be $200,000.

The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI, a department spokeswoman said. Jacoby could not be reached for comment.

Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com.