An alleged scheme by three Georgia residents to use a fraudulent credit account to acquire $9,500 worth of new iPhones at the Sam’s Club in Hempfield backfired Friday.

Joel E. Teteh, 25, Chantel B. Kennedy, 29, and John O. Nur, 33, all of the Atlanta area, were arrested by state police on multiple charges of access device fraud, theft, identity theft, retail theft and theft by deception.

Teteh and Kennedy were ordered held without bond by District Judge Jason Buczak, while authorities investigate whether the trio may have attempted similar thefts at other Sam’s Clubs stores. Nur was released on unsecured bond because it was reportedly his first retail theft attempt, according to court documents.

Trooper Charles Huss reported Teteh formerly worked for a third-party vendor that sells electronics at Sam’s Clubs throughout the country. However, the marketing firm, Smart Circle, told troopers that Teteh had been terminated.

Huss alleges Teteh had Kennedy and Nur accompany him to the Hempfield store, where they would be provided with a fraudulent Visa account to buy seven iPhone Pro Max phones valued at more than $9,500.

Huss reported that Kennedy used the fake account provided by Teteh to acquire four iPhones valued at more than $5,400 with the assistance of Teteh. During the course of the incident, Huss said Teteh was told to leave the store after employees learned he was fired April 16.

Kennedy also had three additional iPhones in her possession valued at $4,000, which she gave to Nur inside the store.

When Nur attempted to leave the store, store employees unsuccessfully attempted to stop him. Police obtained the license plate and description of the fleeing vehicle, later stopping the trio in North Huntingdon, according to court records.

“All the iPhones were recovered and returned to Sam’s Club,” Huss said.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled April 24 before Hempfield District Judge Mark Mansour.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)