More than 50 diners double-billed at city restaurant

Among those purchases were...services at the Foxwoods Resort casino

More than 50 diners double-billed at city restaurant, say police
By Elizabeth Dinan
SeaCoastOnline

PORTSMOUTH — The number of diners who were double-billed for meals at the Bella Sol restaurant as part of a criminal scheme by the restaurant’s owner has grown to “over 50,” said Portsmouth police prosecutor David Colby.

The victim count was announced during a Monday arraignment for Brian Pearson, 28, of 172 White Lake Road, Chocorua, the former owner of the now-closed Bella Sol restaurant.

Pearson is charged with a felony count of fraudulent use of a credit card alleging he doubled billed the customers between Aug. 27, 2010 through May 26, 2011. Police say he placed additional charges on the customers’ credit cards after they’d dined at his restaurant, without the customers’ authorization and then he spent the cash on himself.

During his Nov. 7 arraignment, Pearson was represented by attorney Erland McLetchie and he entered a plea of not guilty to the felony. Colby successfully petitioned the Portsmouth court for an order barring Pearson from having contact with the alleged victims who, said “Colby, are too numerous to list in a court order.

Pearson’s $50,000 personal recognizance bail was maintained by the court and he was ordered to return for a Dec. 5 probable cause hearing.

Police Capt. Corey MacDonald previously told the Herald that many of the bogus charges Pearson put on customers’ credit cards were “relatively small,” but the aggregate reached thousands of dollars. He said Pearson placed the additional charges on customers’ credit cards weeks and months after they dined at Bella Sol, and in some instances, after the Market Square restaurant permanently closed.

According to an affidavit for Pearson’s arrest, after Pearson made the unauthorized charges, the money was transferred to his restaurant’s bank account and from that account, Pearson made personal purchases. Among those purchases were monthly membership fees for a gym and goods and services at the Foxwoods Resort casino, a city gas station and a local market where he bought gasoline, food and DVDs, according to a police report.


Police: Bella Sol owner double-billed customers

Restaurant owner bought goods, services using customers' cards, say police