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The scheme was uncovered in June after a Darien resident reported to police that he believed his daughter's boyfriend, Sean Frangione, 42, of Stamford, had stolen checks from his residence, said Darien Police Sgt. James Palmieri.
The man also believed Frangione stole $300 in cash and a credit card from his dresser. In total, five fraudulent checks had been cashed for a total of $1,455, said Palmieri.
Several of the checks had been made out to Robert Simmons, 51, of Stamford. In addition, a cash advance of $566.50 had been taken out on his credit card through the app Venmo, police said.
The bank provided the victim with canceled checks and copies of both Frangione’s and Simmons’ identification they used when cashing the checks.
When officers contacted Frangione, he told officers that a check was given to him by his girlfriend's father, but refused to expand upon that information. Frangione agreed to come to headquarters to be interviewed, but never showed up, Palmieri said.
Police obtained arrest warrants for both men, police said.
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, Darien Police was notified that Simmons was in the custody of the Stamford Police. He was transported to Darien and charged with first-degree conspiracy to forgery, second-degree conspiracy to identity theft, fifth-degree larceny, first-degree forgery, and identity theft.
He was held on a $50,000 bond.
On Friday, Oct. 4, officers responded to a call of a suspicious man looking into vehicle windows in the area of LaForge Road, Palmieri said.
Responding officers found Frangione, who was arrested on the warrant, as well as another warrant from the Monroe Police Department, he added.
He was charged with first-degree forgery, second-degree identity theft, sixth-degree larceny, first-degree conspiracy to forgery, second-degree identity theft, and violation for probation. He was held on a $25,000 bond for the Darien charges and a $10,000 bond for the Monroe charges.
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