UPDATE: Mason police say investigation closed, won't release public records

Andre Cornelius, point guard on Mason's men's basketball team, was arrested Friday on felony larceny charges. He has been summarily suspended from the team. (C2M)

Andre Cornelius, senior point guard for Mason’s men’s basketball team, has been suspended from the team pending the outcome of credit card fraud and larceny charges, stemming from his arrest Friday.

“He [Cornelius] has been summarily suspended pending the outcome of the legal proceedings and an investigation by the university’s Office of Judicial Affairs,” said Maureen Nasser, Athletic Department Director of Communications.

Cornelius is expected to appear in court tomorrow for an arraignment hearing at 10:30 a.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse, in Court Room 2J.

According to the Mason Police blotter for Friday, Sept. 16, Cornelius was arrested by Mason police for credit card fraud and credit card larceny. He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and released on $1,500 unsecured bond.

The George Mason Police Department said the case is an “ongoing investigation” and will not report on specifics details of the case at this time.

Fairfax County General District Court confirmed Cornelius is being charged with two counts: one count felony larceny and one count misdemeanor fraud.

Cornelius was released on personal recognizance. Personal recognizance allows the defendant to be released without posting bail if they agree to appear in court and answer for the charges brought against them.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney Office said the arraignment hearing tomorrow is “essentially an advisement hearing.” At the arraignment, Cornelius will be made aware of the charges and his right to an attorney.

A preliminary case hearing has also been set for Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney Office has not yet assigned a prosecutor to the case. The office did say a prosecutor will likely be assigned after the arraignment hearing and more details of the case are available.

Cornelius was not reached for comment by C2M.

Andre Cornelius started every game for the Patriots last season in which he averaged 9.5 points per game and led Mason with 61 made three-point field goals. He figured to be a big part of the Patriots rotation this year.

C2M will continue to follow this story as it develops.

UPDATE: Tuesday, 11 a.m.

Andre Cornelius appeared in court this morning at 10:30 a.m. for his arraignment hearing at the Fairfax County Courthouse. Cornelius was accompanied by his attorney, Councilman Manuel A. Capsalis.

The hearing was presided by Hon. Judge Penney Azcarate.

The defendant did not have to answer to any charges at the hearing this morning but he did verify before the judge that he has obtained an attorney.

Cornelius is expected to appear at the Fairfax County Courthouse again Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. for the preliminary case hearing.

Fairfax County General District Court has also published updated case information. The offense date for the alleged crime has been identified as July 12, 2011. Criminal case details also confirm Cornelius is being charged with credit card fraud and larceny, in violation of VA code 18.2-192.

According to the Code of VA, a person is guilty of credit card or credit card number threft under four instances:

(a) He takes, obtains or withholds a credit card or credit card number from the person, possession, custody or control of another without the cardholder's consent or who, with knowledge that it has been so taken, obtained or withheld, receives the credit card or credit card number with intent to use it or sell it, or to transfer it to a person other than the issuer or the cardholder; or
 

(b) He receives a credit card or credit card number that he knows to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as to the identity or address of the cardholder, and who retains possession with intent to use, to sell or to transfer the credit card or credit card number to a person other than the issuer or the cardholder; or
 

(c) He, not being the issuer, sells a credit card or credit card number or buys a credit card or credit card number from a person other than the issuer; or
 

(d) He, not being the issuer, during any twelve-month period, receives credit cards or credit card numbers issued in the names of two or more persons which he has reason to know were taken or retained under circumstances which constitute a violation of 18.2-194 and subdivision (1) (c) of this section.

It is unclear at this point which instance of theft the defendant is alleged to have committed.

C2M will continue to follow this story leading up to the preliminary hearing, Nov. 15.

Broadside Editor-in-chief Greg Connolly and C2M Sports Reporter John Powell contributed to this report.

UPDATE: Saturday, Sept. 24, 9:30 a.m.

On Monday, the Mason Police Department said the Cornelius larceny case is an “ongoing investigation” and they would not report on specifics details of the case at that time.

The department has since corrected their statement by asserting the investigation is closed.

Per department policy, the Mason Police Department has declined to disclose information beyond criminal incident information viewable on the Police Blotter.

C2M has pursued all public case records publically accessible under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Fairfax General District Court records list the date of the offense as July 12, 2011.

Three days later, on July 15, the Mason Police Blotter lists a complaint of credit card theft.

The description of that incident reads, “Credit card was taken from victim’s room and was used at several locations.” The crime log also states the incident occurred in the Eastern Shore residence hall on Mason’s Fairfax campus. Case status is currently pending.

It has not been verified whether the complaint is related to the charges brought against Cornelius.

The Washington Post published a quote from an unnamed source who claimed Cornelius “found a credit card on campus in July, used it to purchase food and gasoline valued at about $60 and then threw away the card.”

While Major George Ginovsky of the Mason Police Department has declined to disclose specific case information, he did outline the general procedure for conducting an investigation when an individual is suspected of credit card fraud or larceny.

According to Ginovsky, the first step is usually to talk to the victim and other witnesses. After following those leads, the detective or investigator then usually consults technologies such as video surveillance and attempts to trace data if the credit card was used.

Ginovsky said he urges students and community members to take two important precautions in order to limit instances of theft and larceny on campus.

“If you’re in the JC [Johnson Center] or library, don’t leave property unattended,” Ginovsky said. “If you’re living in a residence hall, lock the door to your room. “

Police suspect the majority of thefts occurring in a residence hall are not performed by individuals breaking in or forcing access, but by other residents of the building, said Ginovsky.

Earlier in the week, Cornelius “tweeted” two messages from his Twitter account to his followers, likely in response to his arrest.

On Monday, Cornelius wrote, “I'm doing some re- evaluating in my life all negative people must go I gotta make changes if u ain't gone have my back den u gotta go.” (Sept. 19)

Later that day, he sent another message. “These past couple of days really opened my eyes and made me think people r not who u think they are.” (Sept. 19)

C2M will continue to follow this story leading up to the preliminary hearing, Nov. 15.