A man was arrested in Aspen, Colorado after he allegedly tried to pass himself off as former NFL receiver Chad Johnson, also known as Ochocinco, during an $18,548 shopping spree at a Louis Vuitton store, according to local police reports.
Police say the 25 year old suspect, Mervin, and two other people picked items off the shelves and ran up the total. His credit card was reportedly declined, so he paid with Apple Pay on his phone. The store then asked for photo ID. According to reports, Mervin could not provide his own and gave Johnson’s name instead.
The cashier processed the sale and called police, who arrived before he left the store. Officers reportedly asked for the card number tied to the Apple Pay account and he could not give it. Police say he kept insisting he was Chad Johnson until officers asked his birth year. He answered 1991, which is years after Johnson’s actual birth year.
Mervin was booked on felony counts of identity theft and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, according to police. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Johnson, who was not involved, reacted on social media and said he was flattered. He joked that he is known for being frugal and does not spend anywhere near that amount at a single store. He also tweeted that he would be willing to bail the man out because he wanted to talk to him.
