Tag:

Identity theft

Man Busted Trying To Open Account At CT Bank With Fake ID, Police Say Man Busted Trying To Open Account At CT Bank With Fake ID, Police Say
Man Busted Trying To Open Account At CT Bank With Fake ID, Police Say Police nabbed a 46-year-old man who allegedly attempted to open an account at a Fairfield County bank with a fraudulent identification.  The incident occurred in Darien on Friday, April 12, at the TD Bank at 55 Post Road.  According to Sgt. Dan Skoumbros of the Darien Police, New York City resident Wesley Gabriel, age 46, of Brooklyn, was attempting to open a bank account with a current customer's identification and then attempted to leave the bank.  When officers spoke with Gabriel, he refused to identify himself and refused to answer any questions, Skoumbros said…
George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races'
George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos is mounting a comeback campaign. The Republican ex-lawmaker from Long Island – who was ousted from his 3rd District seat representing parts of Nassau County and Queens – announced a primary challenge against Rep. Nick LaLota for his 1st District seat. In a statement on X shared during President Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night, March 7, Santos said New York hasn’t had “a real conservative represent them” since he left office “thanks to RINO, empty suits like Nick LaLota.” Earlier Report: Exiled Congressman Turned Reality …
CT Resident's IRS Payments Stolen Out Mailbox, Cashed By Thief, Police Say CT Resident's IRS Payments Stolen Out Mailbox, Cashed By Thief, Police Say
CT Resident's IRS Payments Stolen Out Mailbox, Cashed By Thief, Police Say A Fairfield County resident who mailed two checks to pay his taxes was surprised when he received word from the Internal Revenue Service about non-payment of his bill. The Darien resident then contacted the police in May 2023, who found that someone had stolen his checks out of his mailbox and cashed them with another name on the payee line. An investigation led Darien Police to the Morris County Correctional Center in New Jersey to arrest David Velazquez, age 28, of Warren, New Jersey. According to Darien Police Sgt. Dan Skoumbros, Velazquz had allegedly taken the checks out of the m…
CT Woman Nabbed For Stealing, Cashing Checks, Police Say CT Woman Nabbed For Stealing, Cashing Checks, Police Say
CT Woman Nabbed For Stealing, Cashing Checks, Police Say A Fairfield County woman was nabbed for allegedly ripping off checks, altering them, and then cashing them.  Norwalk resident Joann Guzman, age 28, was arrested on Sunday, Feb. 25, for the incident that occurred in January. According to Westport Police Lt. Eric Woods, Westport Police initiated an investigation after a complaint was made concerning checks being stolen, altered, and cashed.  The investigation revealed that two neighbors were contacted by two different banks concerning checks that were being cashed against their accounts by the same person, Woods said…
CT Man Nabbed For Possession Of Child Porn, Police Say CT Man Nabbed For Possession Of Child Porn, Police Say
CT Man Nabbed For Possession Of Child Porn, Police Say A Fairfield County man has been charged with possession of child pornography after police allegedly found 153 video files containing child sex abuse during a search of his home. Eduardo Barajas-Mendoza, age 37 of Wilton, was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 30 by the Wilton Police following an intensive investigation. According to Lt. Anna Tornello, of the Wilton Police, the department received information from the Connecticut State Police task force reporting that the distribution of child sexual abuse material may have occurred in Wilton. A search warrant was completed for the IP Addr…
Woman Charged With ID Theft Trying To Withdraw $6K In Cash At TD Bank In CT Woman Charged With ID Theft Trying To Withdraw $6K In Cash At TD Bank In CT
Woman Charged With ID Theft Trying To Withdraw $6K In Cash At TD Bank In CT A 43-year-old Connecticut woman was charged with identity theft and other crimes after allegedly attempting to withdraw $6,500 in cash at a bank in Fairfield County. Nicole Brayman of New London, was charged on Saturday, Jan. 20 in Darien. According to Sgt. Dan Skoumbros of the Darien Police, officers responded to TD Bank located at 55 Post Road on a report of a woman attempting to withdraw cash using stolen identity information.  An officer located Brayman in the parking lot and while speaking with her she said she had a crack pipe in her bag and that she left a fraudu…
Man, 30, Poses As South Windsor Landlord, Demands Money From Resident, Police Say Man, 30, Poses As South Windsor Landlord, Demands Money From Resident, Police Say
Man, 30, Poses As South Windsor Landlord, Demands Money From Resident, Police Say A 30-year-old man has been charged with burglary after allegedly breaking into a Connecticut home posing as a fake landlord. Hampden County resident Precious C. Okorie, age 30, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was arrested around 4:40 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28 in South Windsor, Connecticut.  According to Sgt. Mark Cleverdon of the South Windsor Police, Okorie broke into a home and remained there while the resident and her two children were present as part of a fake landlord-tenant dispute. An investigation into the incident found that Okorie created and forged leasing documents using…
George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows
George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos may avoid leaving his fate up to a trial in his federal fraud case. The Republican ex-congressman is currently in talks with federal prosecutors for a possible plea deal in his 23-count criminal case, according to a filing in Central Islip federal court on Monday, Dec. 11. In the joint filing, US Attorney Breon Peace and Santos asked the court to schedule the next status conference in approximately 30 days, saying “the parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial.” Earli…
Man Accused Of Trying To Cash Forged Checks At Bank In CT Man Accused Of Trying To Cash Forged Checks At Bank In CT
Man Accused Of Trying To Cash Forged Checks At Bank In CT A 48-year-old man was captured after a months-long investigation into identity theft and larceny at a Fairfield County bank.  James Greco, of Wynantskill, New York, located in Rensselaer County, was charged on Tuesday, Nov. 21 on a warrant for the July incident at a Wilton bank. According to Lt. Anna Tornello, of the Wilton Police, Greco entered the bank and forged checks in the victim’s name, and then deposited the cash into other accounts. After an extensive investigation, and with the help of several other law enforcement agencies, Greco was identified as the suspect and …
Know Them? Duo Wanted For CT Car Burglaries, Police Say Know Them? Duo Wanted For CT Car Burglaries, Police Say
Know Them? Duo Wanted For CT Car Burglaries, Police Say Police in Fairfield County are asking the public for help identifying two people allegedly responsible for several vehicle burglaries and cashing some $30,000 in fake checks using the car owner's identity. The Norwalk Detective Bureau said the two are responsible for burglarizing several vehicles parked on Muller Avenue on Nov. 8, said Lt. Tomasz Podgorski of the Norwalk Police. Podgorski said after burglarizing the vehicles, the duo used the identifications of the owners of the vehicles to cash over $30,000.00 in fraudulent checks.  The suspects were seen operating a white …
Woman Swipes Money Orders Sent From CT, Forges For Herself, Police Say Woman Swipes Money Orders Sent From CT, Forges For Herself, Police Say
Woman Swipes Money Orders Sent From CT, Forges For Herself, Police Say A 31-year-old woman is accused of stealing money orders that were sent from a Fairfield County mailbox and pocketing the money for herself. Julissa Herrera, age 31, of the Bronx, turned herself in to Darien Police on Friday, Nov. 17, on an open warrant. According to investigators, the victim contacted police in July 2023 saying that two of her Western Union money orders had been stolen. She had placed the money orders into a USPS mailbox on Corbin Drive in Darien in April 2023, but later noticed that the funds never showed up in her bank account. The woman eventually learned that the chec…
CT Woman Accused Of Stealing Wilton Resident’s Identity To Cash Checks CT Woman Accused Of Stealing Wilton Resident’s Identity To Cash Checks
CT Woman Accused Of Stealing Wilton Resident’s Identity To Cash Checks A woman from Pennsylvania has been charged with burglary and identity theft after she allegedly broke into a car in Connecticut, and tried to cash checks she stole from that car, police said. Kaitlyn Miller, age 28, of King of Prussia in Montgomery County, PA, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 15, in Fairfield County after police said she broke into a car in Wilton Center on Jan. 24. She stole checks from that car and cashed, or tried to cash them, at different banks shortly after, according to police. Miller was arraigned at Stamford Superior Court and charged with: Conspiracy to coming t…
CT Congressman Votes Against Expelling Rep. George Santos: 'I'm Not F'ing Around' CT Congressman Votes Against Expelling Rep. George Santos: 'I'm Not F'ing Around'
CT Congressman Votes Against Expelling Rep. George Santos: 'I'm Not F'ing Around' A Connecticut congressman is defending his decision to vote against expelling New York Rep. George Santos from Congress despite the fact that he is facing almost two dozen federal criminal charges.  Rep. Jim Himes, who represents Connecticut's 4th congressional district, voted against expelling Santos during a resolution to oust him brought by his fellow New York Republicans on Wednesday night, Nov. 1.  Earlier Report - NY Rep. George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' The 4th District includes parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties, including the cities of B…
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process'
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' New York Rep. George Santos, who admitted to lying about his background and is facing nearly two dozen federal criminal charges, is claiming victory after an effort to expel him from Congress failed. The freshman Republican lawmaker from Long Island, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, easily survived a resolution brought by his fellow New York Republicans to oust Santos from the House on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The resolution failed with 179 members voting in favor and 213 voting against. Nineteen members voted “present.” Earlier Report: George Santos Pleads Not…
Argument Leads To Ansonia Woman's Arrest Argument Leads To Ansonia Woman's Arrest
Argument Leads To Ansonia Woman's Arrest A Connecticut woman wanted on two warrants was charged with failure to appear during an argument with another person at a Fairfield County home, authorities say.  New Haven County resident Giorgiana Rose Mastrangelo, age 23, of Ansonia, was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 10 in New Canaan on Forest Street. When New Cannan Police officers arrived at the scene of the argument they found Mastrangelo had active arrest warrants out of New Haven and New Canaan, said Lt. Marc DeFelice of the New Canaan Police. Mastrangelo was originally charged in 2021 for allegedly stealing another person’s…
Credit Card ID Theft: CT Gas Station Worker Accused Of Stealing Customer Info Credit Card ID Theft: CT Gas Station Worker Accused Of Stealing Customer Info
Credit Card ID Theft: CT Gas Station Worker Accused Of Stealing Customer Info An employee at a gas station was charged with larceny and other charges after allegedly stealing credit card information from a customer in Fairfield County and making purchases. Ahmed Rajput, age 26, of Stamford, was arrested on Monday, June 26 by Greenwich Police on a warrant, said Lt. Ted Latiak, of the Greenwich Police. According to Latiak, in April, Rajput worked at the Citco gas station, located at 392 Post Rd, in Greenwich where he allegedly stole a customer's credit card and used it to make a number of fraudulent purchases.  He was also determined to have stolen…
Criminal Impersonation: CT Woman Used Stolen Debit Card To Go On Shopping Spree, Police Say Criminal Impersonation: CT Woman Used Stolen Debit Card To Go On Shopping Spree, Police Say
Criminal Impersonation: CT Woman Used Stolen Debit Card To Go On Shopping Spree, Police Say A 22-year-old Connecticut woman is accused of trying to take over a woman's financial life after someone stole her wallet, authorities said.  Litchfield County resident Audrey Bennett, of Woodbury, faces two counts of criminal impersonation and one charge each of identity theft, theft, and criminal attempt of larceny, Wallingford Police said on Friday, May 12. A New Haven County woman called Wallingford police on Jan. 17 after someone used her information to buy a new iPhone 14 from AT&T, authorities said. The woman told investigators that someone had stolen her wallet from her car…
CT Woman Fakes Elaborate Harassment Hoax, Gets Restraining Order, Police Say CT Woman Fakes Elaborate Harassment Hoax, Gets Restraining Order, Police Say
CT Woman Fakes Elaborate Harassment Hoax, Gets Restraining Order, Police Say A Connecticut woman was charged with allegedly carrying out an elaborate harassment hoax, convincing police and even getting a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend. Hartford County resident Amy E. Hull, age 35, of South Windsor, was charged on Monday, April 17 following an extensive investigation by police. According to Sgt. Mark Cleverdon, of the New Windsor Police, Hull’s charges stem from an early 2022 ongoing harassment case in which she claimed she was being harassed by the victim, an ex-boyfriend.  During the investigation, it was determined Hull orchestrated an …
Fake ID Scam: Thousands Of Dollars Swindled From CT Resident, Police Say Fake ID Scam: Thousands Of Dollars Swindled From CT Resident, Police Say
Fake ID Scam: Thousands Of Dollars Swindled From CT Resident, Police Say A man has been charged with larceny and identity theft after allegedly using a fake ID to steal more than $20,000 from a Fairfield County resident. Archie Longson, age 44, of New York City, was arrested by Wilton Police on Monday, March 27 on a warrant. The victim first learned of the crime in April 2022, when they found two fraudulent transactions on their bank account for a total of $20,500; a withdrawal of $8,000 was also made at a bank in Connecticut, and a bank check in the name of Longson was purchased for the amount of $12,500, said Capt. Gregg Phillipson, of the Wilton Police. Long…
Identity Theft, Fraud Scheme: 36-Year-Old CT Man Faces Multiple Charges, Police Say Identity Theft, Fraud Scheme: 36-Year-Old CT Man Faces Multiple Charges, Police Say
Identity Theft, Fraud Scheme: 36-Year-Old CT Man Faces Multiple Charges, Police Say A Connecticut man was charged with larceny and identity theft after allegedly stealing more than $11,000 from a business. Justin L Kies, age 36, of Hartford, was arrested on Tuesday, March 28 on a warrant for the December 2022 incident in which he cashed four fraudulent checks in South Windsor. An investigation found that Kies cashed four fraudulent checks totaling $11,535.25 from Valley Boarding Kennels at 47 Patria Road, said Sgt. Mark Cleverdon, of the South Windsor Police. It was determined that one of the checks was legitimate and intercepted in the mail and then used t…
Caseworker From CT Accused Of Stealing More Than $300K From Client Caseworker From CT Accused Of Stealing More Than $300K From Client
Caseworker From CT Accused Of Stealing More Than $300K From Client A Westchester County caseworker who resides in Connecticut faces numerous charges after allegedly stealing more than $300,000 from a 95-year-old woman suffering from dementia whom she had been taking care of.  Fairfield County resident Chantel Chenault, age 46, of Danbury, was indicted on multiple charges on Friday, March 24 for stealing from the elderly woman under her care in Westchester, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.  According to officials from James's office, Chenault became the woman's caseworker in 2017 and was employed with the Westch…
Woman Tried Depositing Stolen Check Worth Nearly $600K At CT Bank, Police Say Woman Tried Depositing Stolen Check Worth Nearly $600K At CT Bank, Police Say
Woman Tried Depositing Stolen Check Worth Nearly $600K At CT Bank, Police Say A woman faces larceny and identity theft charges after she deposited a stolen check worth almost $600,000 into a fraudulent account at a bank in Darien, police said.  An arrest warrant for 54-year-old Donna Hurley of New York City on charges related to bank forgery was served on Wednesday, Feb. 8 by a Darien police officer at Stamford Superior Court, according to Sergeant Dan Skoumbros.  The fraudulent activity leading up to Hurley's arrest began in October 2022, when Hurley allegedly opened a business account at the First Country Bank located at 1006 Post Rd. on Tu…
Man Charged In Scheme To Steal, Cash Checks That Were Mailed In CT, Police Say Man Charged In Scheme To Steal, Cash Checks That Were Mailed In CT, Police Say
Man Charged In Scheme To Steal, Cash Checks That Were Mailed In CT, Police Say Investigators in Fairfield County reported that a 21-year-old man was charged in a scheme to steal and cash checks that were being sent in the mail. Darien officers responded to the West Haven Police Department at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, to take custody of Wilson Ketter, of West Haven, on an arrest warrant, the Darien Police Department reported. Police said a victim reported on Friday, Aug. 12, that a personal check they mailed had been stolen, altered, and cashed. Investigators spoke to the account holder for the fraudulent check, and the account holder said she made co…
Police Alert Residents After String Of Vehicle Thefts In CT Police Alert Residents After String Of Vehicle Thefts In CT
Police Alert Residents After String Of Vehicle Thefts In CT Police in Fairfield County issued an alert following a string of vehicle thefts. The New Canaan Police Department said the thefts and suspicious incidents took place between Friday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 30. Officers first responded to a report of a vehicle stolen from a driveway in the area of Weed Street and Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan at about 1:20 a.m. on Friday, according to the report. The owner said the keys to their 2016 Land Rover had been left in the vehicle, along with a checkbook, a laptop, and work-related paperwork, police said. Another resident of Weed Street then …
Man Accused Of Using Info Of Victim From CT To Buy $47,900 Rolex At NYC Store Man Accused Of Using Info Of Victim From CT To Buy $47,900 Rolex At NYC Store
Man Accused Of Using Info Of Victim From CT To Buy $47,900 Rolex At NYC Store A 55-year-old man is facing charges after investigators reported he used the information of a victim from Fairfield County to purchase a $47,905 watch. Darien Police officers responded to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office in Paterson, New Jersey, on Thursday, Oct. 6, to take custody of Douglas Cantey, a resident of Paterson, who was wanted in an incident that was reported on April 3, the Darien Police Department said. The victim told police he received a UPS delivery of an empty Rolex watch box, which he didn't purchase, authorities said. He then discovered an unauthorized purc…
CT Woman Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $200K From Company CT Woman Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $200K From Company
CT Woman Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $200K From Company A 39-year-old woman was nabbed for allegedly embezzling nearly $200,000 from a Fairfield County company. Daria Opolski, of Norwalk, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 15 in Darien after turning herself in to police on an active warrant.  She was arrested for an incident stemming from August when a victim came to police headquarters to report larceny involving a large sum of money embezzled from her business account by one of her employees, said Sgt. Dan Skoumbros, of the Darien Police.  The victim reported that the employee she suspected was Opolski and reported …
Woman Charged With Identity Theft For Using Credit Card Stolen In CT, Police Say Woman Charged With Identity Theft For Using Credit Card Stolen In CT, Police Say
Woman Charged With Identity Theft For Using Credit Card Stolen In CT, Police Say A 40-year-old woman is facing an identity theft charge after investigators reported that she used a credit card that was stolen from a vehicle in Fairfield County. Darien Police Department officers responded to Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 30, to extradite Colleen Kane, who was being held on a fugitive from justice charge, the Darien Police Department said. Police said Kane waived extradition and was transported back to Darien. She was being held on an arrest warrant stemming from a motor vehicle burglary that happened on Old Kings Highway in Darien on May 25, authorities reported. …
CT Man Charged With ID Theft, Forgery After Incident At Bank CT Man Charged With ID Theft, Forgery After Incident At Bank
CT Man Charged With ID Theft, Forgery After Incident At Bank A Fairfield County man is facing forgery and identity theft charges after police said he tried to make a fraudulent transaction at a bank. Christopher Johnson, age 54, of Norwalk, was arrested at about 3:20 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15, on charges stemming from an incident that happened in Darien in 2020, the Darien Police Department announced on Wednesday, Aug. 24. Officers responded to Chase Bank, located at 165 Noroton Ave. in Darien at about 1:40 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2020, after receiving a report about an attempted fraudulent transaction, police said. An employee said the man, later identifie…
Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams In CT Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams In CT
Police Issue New Warning For 'Difficult To Investigate' Scams In CT Police are warning the public about a new increase in scams that are "difficult to investigate." The scams, which take place all over the country, have also been reported region. "Even though the police may be made aware of these types of cases, they can be difficult to investigate because many times the suspects are in another country or quickly leave the scene where very little suspect information is available," the Trumbull Police Department in Fairfield County, Connecticut, said. Here's a list of the types of scams: The caller claimed to be a family member that has an illness or was …
CT Woman Nabbed Stealing $38K Using Fraudulent ID, Police Say CT Woman Nabbed Stealing $38K Using Fraudulent ID, Police Say
CT Woman Nabbed Stealing $38K Using Fraudulent ID, Police Say A Connecticut woman has been arrested for allegedly writing more than $38,000 in fraudulent checks from the account of a Fairfield County resident. An investigation into the incident began in Westport in June 2021 after a resident reported that an unknown person has used his personal information to write more than $38,000 in checks. The checks were deposited into a Citibank account which led detectives to question a man identified as Eldrege Christmas as a suspect, said Lt. David Wolf, of the Westport Police. As a result, a search warrant to examine Christmas’s cell phone was obtained. Ad…
Man Nabbed Trying to Fraudulently Obtain Debit Card At CT Bank Man Nabbed Trying to Fraudulently Obtain Debit Card At CT Bank
Man Nabbed Trying to Fraudulently Obtain Debit Card At CT Bank A Hudson Valley man has been charged with attempting to fraudulently obtain a debit card in Fairfield County while impersonating the real account holder. The incident took place in Westport on Thursday, June 30 at the TD Bank located at 185 Main St. Officers responded to the bank on a report that a man was attempting to receive a debit card by impersonating the real account holder, said Lt. David Wolf, of the Westport Police. The suspect was still in the bank when officers arrived. He said his name was Edward Tucker and presented a Pennsylvania driver's license with that name, Wolf said. …