Patron claims bar owner stole her card

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - An upset customer contacted News 4, claiming a popular bar in Buffalo ran up her tab - but not on drinks.

Buffalo Police are investigating a case that involves the owner of Roxy's nightclub, Julia Greenwood, and her alleged unauthorized use of a patron's credit/debit card. News 4 spoke to one woman who has filed a complaint.

Sarah Gatti said, "I think she took it from behind the bar, signed out my tab, signed the receipt in my name, and then went on a shopping spree with my money."

Gatti told News 4 she never got her credit/debit card back from Roxy's on Main Street, one Saturday night late in August. Gatti says she had forgotten she put it on the bar for an open tab.  Within a few days her card was "red flagged" by M&T Bank. Someone else was using it - a lot.

"She used it at Price Rite. She used it at Frontier Beverage. She used it at a Tim Horton's, a Mobil, a UPS store...Rite Aid," Gatti said.

According to Gatti, Roxy's owner Julia Greenwood is believed to have been recorded on a surveillance camera using the card at a Walgreen's store. In a Buffalo Police report obtained News 4, Detective Sean Buth asks Gatti:

"Did she (Julia Greenwood) have permission to use your credit card at Walgreens on 8/27/12 at 2:44 PM?"

"No," Gatti replied.

"Based on the Walgreen's surveillance photos from that date and time, who is seen in those photos?"

"Julia Greenwood, the owner of Roxy's," Gatti answered.

"Do you wish to prosecute?"

"Yes," Gatti said.

Buffalo Police tell News 4 that Julia Greenwood was arrested on September 13th and charged with grand larceny and unauthorized use of a stolen credit card. Her attorney made this comment about the charges:

"This is resolution on the table, and it should result in nothing significant, [from] my understanding," said Jay Kim Welch.

Gatti, who is a student at ECC, says she has no money left in her account.

"I didn't have any money, so my mom had to buy my school books for me. I just didn't have any money. I had to borrow money from my family for gas. I want her to go through the courts and get in trouble legally, so she doesn't do this to other people," Gatti said.

Julia Greenwood told News 4 that a cleaning person found Gatti's card and that she then put the card in her pocket. Greenwood says she has the same bank card and confused Gatti's card with her own.