The Iowa City Police Department arrested a person of interest in a 2025 credit card crime investigation Tuesday.
Michael Amerson, 32, was arrested Tuesday for alleged unauthorized use of a credit card under $1,500 and fourth-degree theft charges, a serious misdemeanor for property theft over $300, according to Iowa Code.
According to a Tuesday news release, a stolen credit card was used at Hawkeye Liquor, located at 108 E. College St., with police requesting to speak with the person of interest.
According to court documents, Amerson was released on recognizance Tuesday, agreeing to attend all future court dates and not incur any additional criminal charges as his case proceeds.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on March 21, 2025, according to the criminal complaint, when police were notified of three suspicious transactions made to a business. Upon checking with the owner, officers learned the card had gone missing overnight and had not been authorized to make those transactions.
RELATED: Dubuque man arrested for comic book theft totaling $2,100
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses knew the defendant by name and identified the defendant as the user of the card for all three transactions. Video footage of the transaction verified his identity, and officers recognized him due to contact with him earlier the same day. The total value of items obtained using the unauthorized card was $525.13.
Under Iowa Code, theft to the fourth degree is penalized by a fine of at least $430 but not exceeding $2,560. In addition, the court may also order imprisonment not to exceed one year.
Unauthorized use of a credit card under $1,500 is considered an aggravated misdemeanor, with the typical penalty not exceeding two years and a fine of at least $855, not exceeding $8,540.
According to ICPD’s 2024 annual report, credit card/ATM fraud was down 14 percent from 2023 to 2024, with 126 and 108 credit card or ATM crimes in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
ICPD sought the public’s assistance in identifying a man in a credit card fraud investigation on Feb. 2, later identified as Amerson.
According to the Tuesday news release, additional charges are expected.