Florida Man Nabbed at Airport For Traveling with 500 Fake Credit Cards and Gift Cards

Orlando, FL — Robert Smith-Merced, a 46-year-old man from Kissimmee, Florida, has been arrested after airport authorities discovered a stash of about 500 fake credit cards and gift cards in his suitcase. 

Smith-Merced has tried to fly out of the Orlando International Airport last week with a baggage full of forged cards. TSA screeners found the counterfeit cards upon checking his baggage around 8:30 a.m.

Orlando police alerted the airport authority at Newark Liberty Airport where Smith-Merced arrived from his Delta flight. He was arrested around 10:00 a.m.

Officials found three fake credit cards and a counterfeit Connecticut driver’s license. The fraudster’s baggage stuffed with forged cards was held in Orlando.

He is facing charges of false government documents and credit card theft as well as federal charges for intentionally possessing counterfeit devices, according to authorities.