Putnam County Yariel Villegas, age 24, of Carmel, has been charged with first-degree identity theft and second-degree grand larceny following an investigation, state police announced on Thursday, June 30.
On Oct. 7, 2021, State Police Kingston were notified by the Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union for a larceny of approximately $131,206.51.
Troopers began an extensive investigation that led them to Villegas.
The investigation revealed that Villegas opened a fraudulent account with the credit union using the stolen the identity of another individual, state police said.
He then made numerous expensive purchased throughout the Hudson Valley, state police said.
Some of those fraudulent purchases were jewelry, clothing, and airline tickets.
Villegas was arraigned in the Town of Ulster Court and was released on his own recognizance.
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