Popular SouthCoast Wedding Officiant Charged with Credit Card Fraud

Brides beware: a popular SouthCoast wedding officiant has been charged with credit card fraud.

James C. Stern is a non-denominational minister who runs An Amazing Day, and has won multiple awards for his work as a wedding vendor. In my work as a DJ, I have seen Stern at countless weddings across the area for a long time.

According to the Newport Daily News, Stern, a 39-year-old resident of Newport, Rhode Island, has been accused of fraudulently using a credit card that was stolen from a wedding guest recently, where Stern was the officiant. He entered no plea Wednesday in Newport District Court on the felony charge of fraudulent use of a credit card in the amount of over $100, and pleaded innocent to two misdemeanor charges: larceny under $1,500, and fraudulent use of a credit card under $100.

Stern was released on $1,000 personal recognizance.

The Daily News reports that a woman told Newport Police her purse was stolen while she was staying at the bridal room of a Newport hotel for a friend’s wedding. The purse had $200 in cash and her credit card, which was used in Fall River, Middletown and Portsmouth while she was still at the wedding. Surveillance footage at a Portsmouth CVS showed Stern using the credit card to purchase a gift card in the amount of $206.95.

Anyone using Stern's services for their wedding should be aware of these charges against him, even though he is innocent until proven guilty. And ladies, take this as a lesson to keep your valuables locked up tight, even when you're in the bridal room.