A 72-year-old Village of Hillsborough man is poised to avoid prosecution in the theft of a fellow Villager’s wallet earlier this year at Winn-Dixie at Pinellas Plaza in The Villages.
Dominick Cascio, a native of New York, had been standing in line Feb. 9 at the grocery store when a man in line in front of him accidentally left his wallet at the credit card machine after checking out, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. That man went a few doors down in the shopping center where his wife was having her nails done.
Video surveillance revealed that Cascio was checking out when he spotted the wallet, opened it, and put it into his right front pocket.
“It should be noted, at one point the suspect had his own wallet in his left hand and the victim’s wallet in his right hand,” the arrest report said.
The man, who also is a Villager, realized his wallet was missing and returned to the store the following day. He was told by management that no one had turned in a wallet.
A detective reviewed surveillance footage with the store manager and noticed that Cascio made his purchase that day with a a credit card. The detective contacted the credit card company and using the last four digits of the credit card, date and location of purchase, as well as the amount, the detective and a Capitol One agent, were able to come up with Cascio’s name and date of birth. The detective called up Cascio’s driver’s license photo and discovered he had a match.
On Wednesday, Cascio reported as requested to the Wildwood Police Department. He admitted to taking the wallet, putting it in his pocket, removing the cash and throwing the wallet in the trash. The wallet had contained about $400 in cash.
Last month, Cascio, represented by attorney Jaimie Washo, entered into a pre-trial intervention program. If he meets the terms of the deal. the charge of grand theft will be dismissed.
