Silver Lake Daily Newsletter.com

Couple had More than $8,500 in Solen Items at Traffic Stop:
Walmart Shoplifting investigation reveals nationwide scheme

• By SCOTT DESMIT, sdesmit@batavianews.com

Scott M. Campagnola

A routine call for a report of shoplifting at Walmart led to the discovery of a nationwide fraud scheme and the seizure of more than $8,500 in merchandise and stolen gift cards, Wyoming County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies were called to Walmart Thursday for a report of a larceny in progress. An asset protection investigator told deputies that the suspects fled in a black sport utility vehicle, which was later stopped on Route 19.

The driver, Scott M. Campagnola, 56, and passenger, Diane V. Mankowski, 55, both of Shirley on Long Island, were found to have $3,513.20 worth of stolen merchandise, 104 gift cards with a value of $3,615, and 27 Walmart gift cards valued at $1,437.84.

The total value of the items recovered was $8,566.04.

Multiple fake and altered government identification cards also were seized and Campagnola had been found to be banned from all Walmart stores because of previous larcenies, deputies said.

Police also found six ledgers that detailed a nationwide scheme targeting Walmarts as far west as California and Oregon to Florida and Maine.

Campagnola, a four-time convicted felon with criminal histories in five states, was charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument and petit larceny.

He was committed to Wyoming County Jail without bail.

Mankowski, a convicted felon, was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and was released to appear Aug. 8 in Town Court.