Prospect man accused of paying his illegal barber business with stolen credit card

PROSPECT, Conn. (WTNH) — Officials with the Connecticut State Police say a Prospect man is facing charges after allegedly using another person’s credit card to pay himself through an illegal barber business.

29-year-old Corey Lister of Prospect was charged with two counts of sixth-degree larceny, two counts of sixth-degree criminal attempt to commit larceny, and unlawful possession of a personal identifying information access device.

The victim told police they took their vehicle to a car dealership in Waterbury for a repair service appointment in April, during which they were put in touch with the suspect to coordinate a rental vehicle.

The victim provided Lister their credit card information over the phone and were advised it would be billed accordingly after the repair work was complete- which it was.

The next day, the victim returned to the dealership with their check engine light on and dealt with Lister again, to make arrangements for another rental vehicle. At that time, they were asked to send a digital copy of their insurance card to Lister’s personal cell phone to be printed and attached to the dealership’s paperwork.

Over several days following these interactions, the victim told police they noticed suspicious charges made to their credit card.

Two of the charges- for $176.83 and $130- were successfully processed and two other charges- for $182 and $183- were flagged by the bank as suspicious and canceled.

All the charges were made by a small business payment processing account associated with a business called “Corey’s Cutz.”

The victim found the business name was associated with the same phone number and name Lister provided at the dealership, police said.

Investigators found Lister had previously held a CT Barber License, but it has since expired. They also found no permit had been issued authorizing a barber to operate at Lister’s residence, which people familiar with him alleged he was doing.

Police obtained an arrest warrant on July 8 and Meriden police took him into custody on July 22.

Lister was released on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Torrington Superior Court on Aug. 5.

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