Cops nab bank identity thieves

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The long wait for justice for dozens of Chase bank depositors ripped off by a  gang of identity thieves may be ending. 

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has announced the arrest of five suspects in similar thefts that claimed victims from the Bronx to Westchester and Orange counties. And he has said further charges are pending. 

For several months in 2012, two local branches of the bank were repeatedly hit by a gang with a similar strategy.

As of December 2012, the bank had identified 42 accounts that had been breached since reports of money being illegally withdrawn at two local branches —  3775 Riverdale Ave. and 13 Knolls Crescent — started coming into the 50th Precinct on Aug. 30 of that year. 

The identity thieves opened up a joint account with an account holder online, often posing as his or her spouse, and then withdrew funds.

Typically, $4,000 was taken in two withdrawals of $2,000.

Five people were arrested and charged with stealing the personal information of patrons from Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, TD Bank and Wachovia in the Bronx, and Westchester and Orange Counties, among other counties, according to the Attorney General’s press release.

Alleged ring leader Tyrone Lee, 28, of the Bronx, and three of his alleged co-conspirators, Nadia Figueroa, 23, and Kalika Arline, 29, of the Bronx and Venise Cole, 27, of Florida are accused of stealing over $850,000, according to an indictment unsealed in Westchester County Court, which was announced by Mr. Schneiderman. 

According to authorities, Anthony Davis, 29, of the Bronx allegedly manufactured fraudulent documents used by the ring to steal from victims. The suspects were reportedly employed as bank tellers at Wachovia and JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and TD Bank.  

identity theft, fraud, Chase bank