(Long Island, NY) A Holbrook man was arrested Wednesday on charges of grand larceny and criminal impersonation that occurred in Williston Park, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
According to Crimes Against Property Squad detectives, while in front of 374 Hillside Avenue, Jose Ruela, 44, of 126 Smith Street, met with a female victim, 44, whom he met on a dating website, identified himself as a U.S. Marshal, a retired NYPD police officer and gave her a fictitious name, police said.
The defendant convinced the victim to lend him $3200 because his vehicle had been repossessed. In exchange for the cash, the defendant gave the victim a fraudulent check that was signed by the defendant. He also gave the victim a title to a vehicle he no longer owned as collateral. On August 2, 2013, the defendant told the victim to cash the check when she asked for her money back. When the victim attempted to cash the check she was informed by the bank that it was fraudulent, according to authorities.
Crimes Against Property Squad detectives arrested the defendant on Thursday in front of his residence. Ruela is being charged with Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, Possession Forged Instrument 2nd Degree, Criminal Impersonation 1st Degree and will be arraigned on Friday in First District Court, Hempstead.
