According to Oneida County Sheriff, Robert M.

According to Oneida County Sheriff, Robert M. Maciol, on January 8th, 2026, a Vernon man was arrested in regard to a stolen property complaint.On November 11th, 2025, a Road Patrol Deputy was dispatched to the Town of Verona for a stolen property complaint. Through the Deputies investigation, they learned the victim’s credit card had been used by the suspect without the owner’s consent. It was further learned that the suspect had used the credit card to purchase gift cards at the Lowe’s located in both Utica and New Hartford, and the total for those purchases was $1,247.70. Due to the nature of the complaint, the investigation was turned over to members of the Oneida County Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).

Investigators learned the suspect, 53-year-old Howard Love Jr, had made two purchases on October 30th, 2025; one at the New Hartford Lowe’s and one at the Utica Lowe’s, and made another purchase at the New Hartford Lowe’s on October 31st, 2025, all without the credit card owner’s consent.

Love was subsequently charged with one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a Class E Felony, pursuant to section 165.45(2) of the New York State Penal Law. Love was then escorted to the Oneida County Correctional Facility to await CAP Court.