Anderson Espinal-Corona, age 28, of Copiague was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 8, after being caught attempting to retrieve the money, said the Suffolk County Police.
According to police, an 80-year-old North Carolina woman received a call on Wednesday, Jan. 6 from a person claiming to be her grandson.
The caller stated he was arrested for DWI following a motor vehicle crash that injured another person. The caller put another person on the phone who claimed to be an attorney and stated that he needed $5,200 to bail out her grandson, police said.
The woman was instructed to place the money in a book inside a box and mail it to 385 Greenlawn Terrace in Copiague.
Financial Crimes detectives intercepted the package, removed the money, and the box was delivered to 385 Greenlawn Terrace, where Espinal-Corona lives, and went to retrieve the package, police said.
Espinal-Corona with Attempted Grand Larceny and released on an appearance ticket.
The money will be returned to the victim.
Anyone who is believed to be a victim of the scam is asked to contact the police.
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