Trial date set for man accused of stealing credit cards in U-M buildings

By Kyle Feldscher Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Tue, Apr 17, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.

An Ypsilanti man accused of stealing credit cards from students and staff on the University of Michigan’s campus will stand trial in August on four separate cases, according to court records.

Jason Russ

Courtesy of state of Michigan

Jason Russ, 41, is charged with one count of larceny in a building and three counts of stealing a financial transaction device, according to court records. He’ll return to court for a pretrial hearing at 1:30 p.m. April 30, and his trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 6.

Russ is accused of working with Todd Wilson to steal unattended items from university buildings and then use the credit cards within the bags or backpacks, according to police.

In a separate case, Russ faces two charges each of possession or control of another’s financial transaction device with intent to use, deliver, circulate or sell and stealing, taking or removing a financial transaction device and one charge of larceny in a building, according to court records. He’s set to face a preliminary exam in that case at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Russ and Wilson, also known as Carlton Cross, were two of the biggest reasons why U-M has seen a higher-than-normal amount of larcenies reported in university buildings during 2012, according to police.

Russ has an extensive criminal history.

He has previous convictions for larceny in a building in 2011; assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer; attempting to disarm a peace officer of a firearm; unlawfully driving away an automobile in 2008; unlawfully driving away an automobile; and second-degree home invasion in 2004 and a conviction for receiving or concealing stolen property worth more than $1,000 but less than $20,000. He went on parole on Nov. 17, but is now being held in the Washtenaw County Jail.