ALAMOSA — The Alamosa Police Department (APD) has arrested and charged two McDonald’s employees with seven counts of identity theft (C.R.S. 18-5-902), unauthorized use of a financial transaction device (C.R.S. 18-5-702) times 2, theft (C.R.S. 18-4-401) and complicity (C.R.S. 18-1-603). 

According to a press release from the City of Alamosa, Nathanial Gutierrez, 19, and Josiah Medina, 24, devised a scheme to double charge or add an additional to customers for their meals. Both men are from San Luis. 

The arrests took place after officers received numerous reports of fraudulent charges to credit cards or debit cards. Gutierrez and Medina are suspected of using a Square payment app on their phones to process fraudulent transactions, charging customers for their meals and then charging the amount to their fraudulent app. Each transaction would show the cost of the meal charged to McDonald’s, with a separate transaction fee charged to the customer’s card. 

So far, seven victims have come forward and been identified, with the earliest incident having occurred on Oct. 23. 

“We believe there may be more victims who may not have yet identified the fraudulent charges,” read the release. “We further encourage anyone who may have made a recent purchase at McDonald’s to check their bank or credit card statement for unauthorized or suspected fraudulent charges.”   

Anyone who suspects they might have been a victim of this crime is instructed to contact APD Officer Fabian Juarez either through the Colorado State Patrol Dispatch at 719-589-5807 or the Alamosa Police Department at 719-589-2548. 

All individuals are considered innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.