An effort to avoid paying a $7.41 bill at a Waffle House in tiny Pearl River has led to the arrest of two out-of-state men and the discovery of a sophisticated interstate identity theft scheme that is now being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.

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Upon investigation, police discovered and seized from the two suspects several fake identification cards, counterfeit credit cards and credit card skimming devices. Also found was a Waffle House ticket for $7.41, police said.

The investigation further revealed that Stephens and Brown were recruited and hired by an unidentified person and had been flown into Louis Armstrong International Airport from different states. The two suspects rented the U-Haul in New Orleans East and are alleged to have installed credit card skimming devices in gas pumps at stations in the area, police said.

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Pearl River Police Chief "JJ" Jennings credited his officers for their investigative work that cracked the case.

"As long as I am here, we are not going to put up with any of this criminal nonsense, especially from criminals flying in from California and Indiana," Jennings said. "Let this be a lesson in etiquette as well; pay your bill and tip your waitress."