According to the Los Angeles Times, a Beverly Hills, Calif. salon owner has been accused of using clients’ credit cards to charge unauthorized purchases. The accused is Maria Gabriella Perez, 51, of Beverly Hills who owns and operates the Chez Gabriela Studio.
The skin care studio has a large celebrity and upscale clientele, and according to one affidavit, the studio made $214,000 in fraudulent charges over a five-month period on two credit cards that had belonged to an actor.
Federal officials also allege Perez charged approximately $68,000 to a credit card belonging to a successful jewelry designer.
The Secret Service detained Perez and charged her in a criminal complaint with two counts of access device fraud. If convicted on all counts, she can face up to 25 years in federal prison.
Perez has posted bail as of today and is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 20.
— Tim
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