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Greenwich Police say they responded to 197 Greenwich Avenue on the report of an incidence of bank fraud in progress on Thursday, April 4 around 12:30 p.m.
Officers say they located a suspect matching the description provided by the reporting party in the lobby of the building.
According to police, the suspect, identified as 50-year-old William Ayala of the Bronx, was found to be in possession of a fraudulent New York State driver’s license, personal identifying information of another person whom he was impersonating and a fraudulent credit card. Police also say he tried to withdraw $5,000 from an account.
Officers allegedly discovered a Samsung Galaxy S10E in Ayala’s possession, which police say had been purchased earlier in the month at a T-Mobile location in Stamford using personal information from the same subject he was impersonating at the bank.
Officers also say they a co-conspirator dropped Ayala off and assisted in the crime’s commission. After receiving a description, officers say they were able to locate the second suspect, identified as 35-year-old Michael Smith of the Bronx, a short distance away.
Smith was found to be in possession of two fraudulent IDs and three fraudulent credit cards, according to police.
Ayala and Smith were arrested. Ayala was charged with:
- Third-degree criminal attempted larceny
- Third-degree larceny/conspiracy to commit
- Credit card theft
- Criminal attempted $500 on revoked payment card
- Receipt from illegally used credit card
- Third-degree identity theft (2 counts)
- Criminal impersonation
- Second-degree forgery
Smith was charged with:
- Third-degree larceny/conspiracy to commit
- Credit card theft (3 counts)
- Third-degree identity theft (3 counts)
- Second-degree forgery (2 counts)
Both suspects were released after posting $25,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Friday, April 19.
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