Pair arrested in Saugus accused of running a con

LYNN – A judge ordered $10,000 cash bail for each of two Florida men in whose hotel room and car State Police found numerous stolen credit cards, identifications and Social Security cards.”The evidence indicates an operation that is sophisticated and has multiple victims throughout the state,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Brendan Kelley said in Lynn District Court Friday.Eriko K. Kyles, 28, of 739 NW 15th Way, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was arrested and charged with receiving a stolen credit card, four counts; receiving stolen property +$250; and receiving stolen property -$250; at 8:49 p.m. Thursday.Hervey F. Viaud, 23, of 1750 N. Congress Ave. lot 23, West Palm Beach, Fla., was arrested and charged with receiving a stolen credit card, four counts; receiving stolen property +$250; receiving stolen property -$250; failure to stop for police; and a number plate violation to conceal identification; at 8:49 p.m. Thursday.Pleas of not guilty were entered on each defendant’s behalf Friday in Lynn District Court.State Police on Route 107 in Saugus reported seeing a gray vehicle with a license plate previously reported stolen to Boston Police, according to a report by Trooper James Farrell.Police said the vehicle did not slow down or pull over until a cruiser pulled in front of the car, and troopers found the stolen plate glued to another license plate, Kelley said. The original plate showed the car had been rented to the driver, Viaud, police said.In Viaud’s pocket, police allegedly found a credit card that had been reported stolen. Police also found three more credit cards, payroll and blank checks made out to an unknown person, two driver’s licenses, and a backpack in the glove box, trunk and a seat pocket in the car. None of the credit cards, checks or licenses belonged to either defendant. Viaud also had $4,400 in new $100 bills in his wallet, police reported.Police determined the payroll checks, one of the licenses and the backpack were reported stolen from Brookline, according to reports.Police later searched Kyles’ hotel room and found a bag that a woman said belonged to her and Kyles. Inside the bag, police reported finding “numerous driver’s licenses, credit cards, and Social Security cards.”Kelley requested $15,000 cash bail for each defendant. He said Kyles had a 22-page record of charges from Florida and convictions for charges including firearms offenses and fraud. Kelley said Viaud had a lengthy juvenile record in Massachusetts.Court-appointed defense attorney Christine DeBernardis said Viaud did not try to evade police, he was simply looking for an appropriate place to pull over.She requested a $2,500 cash bail, saying Viaud plans to move to Massachusetts and will come to court.Court-appointed defense attorney Donnalee Leonardo said there was no way Kyles could have known there were stolen credit cards or identifications in the car or that the car had a stolen license plate.She said Kyles simply was getting a ride from a friend who had picked him and a woman up at the airport earlier that morning. She said the bag from Tedeschi also couldn’t have been Kyles’ because they don’t have that store in Florida.”He gets caught up with the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Leonardo said.She requested $250 bail.Judge Ellen Flatley said the defendants’ out-of-state address gave them “no incentive ever to come back” to court and ordered $10,000 cash bail. She scheduled the defendants to return to court Aug. 25.