Credit card fraud suspect says he didn't want wife to find out about girlfriend

Michel Suarez, girlfriend arrested in Keys; phony credit cards, fake IDs found

Michel Suarez, 38, told deputies that he didn't want his wife to know that he was with his girlfriend, Beatriz Saladriga, 20, in the Florida Keys, where they were arrested.

MARATHON, Fla. ā€“ A Hialeah man who was arrested Tuesday in Marathon told deputies that he traveled to the Florida Keys with his girlfriend and didn't want his wife to know, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Michel Suarez, 38, and his girlfriend, Beatriz Saladriga, 20, face charges of fraud and trafficking in counterfeited credit cards.

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A deputy on patrol Tuesday morning spotted a gray Mercedes-Benz SUV driving erratically on the highway and followed the vehicle, which parked on the side of a business near 76th Street, sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin said.

One of the doors was open, and the deputy saw Suarez sitting in the driver's seat, Herrin said.

Deputies searched Suarez, Saladriga and the SUV, finding numerous credit cards that didn't belong to them, Herrin said. Deputies also found two driver's licenses with Suarez's picture on it but with someone else's name on them, Herrin said.

Suarez told deputies that he traveled to the Keys to get out of town with his girlfriend and didn't want his wife to find out about his tryst, Herrin said.

Detectives are investigating to determine if the 12 grocery bags filled with various types of cigarettes found inside the SUV were purchased with the phony credit cards. Herrin said more charges may be pending.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.