More Roxy's patrons question charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Customers of Roxy's claim their credit cards were used for purchases without their permission, after they left their cards at the bar.

News 4 began investigating after one woman came forward and decided to press charges against the popular bar's owner, Julia Greenwood. Sarah Gatti alleges Greenwood used her credit card that Gatti had left at the bar for an open tab. Purchases were made at several stores.

"I want her to just never do this again," Gatti said.

Greenwood was arrested and charged with grand larceny and unauthorized use of a credit card. She tells News 4 that Gatti's card was found by a cleaning person, and that Greenwood put the card in her pocket, and used the card, thinking it was her own, which, she says, is similar in appearance.

MORE | See our full story with Gatti, who says her card was fraudulently used at Tim Horton's, Mobil, a UPS store, Price Rite, Frontier Beverage, and Rite Aid

But News 4 has been receiving calls and e-mails from other patrons of Roxy's who say they have experienced similar issues with the bar.

One woman says in November of 2011, her card was held at the bar. Hours later she says she left without her card, and the next day was told it was missing, only to learn that someone had already used it for $200 of charges, including a local supermarket and restaurant. The bank immediately red-flagged those charges.

The patron said, "I had to go through the fraud process to get my money back from Bank of America."

The woman says Roxy's called her, saying the card had suddenly re-appeared and had been dropped.

"I asked them about the charges on the card, if they had it, that people were using my card, and they said they didn't know anything about that, that the card was given to them," the woman recalled.

No charges were pressed in that case and when asked, Greenwood's attorney said:

"No employee, staff, security or guest would ever do anything like that, and my client denies that that ever happened."

Another Roxy's customer alleges credit card charges of more than $215 fraudulently appeared on her credit card, which she says she had left at the bar. She says she talked with Julia Greenwood.

"She didn't have my card. Looks through the register and didn't have my card. At that time she offered to give me someone else's card because she didn't have mine. Of course I didn't accept the card," the patron recounted.

Greenwood's attorney responded, "Again, my client denies that and she maintains her innocence. There's only been one charge and that's what we're focusing on."

And with this case, there were again no charges filed.

News 4 requested and received Greenwood's arrest record which includes charges in June and July of petty larceny involving alleged stolen merchandise at Tops.

Her attorney countered, "I think they have no relevance to what you're trying to investigate, and what you're trying to blow out of proportion right now."

Buffalo Police are conducting their own investigation in this case.