A New Jersey man was arrested by state police last week and accused of swindling more than $75,000 from a Rexford resident, authorities said.
Luis Aleman, 24, of Hoboken, was charged on Thursday with second- and third-degree grand larceny. He was arraigned in Clifton Park Town Court and sent to the Saratoga County Jail in lieu of bail.
State Police Investigator Rodger Kirsopp said that Aleman is believed to have received $60,000 worth of gold coins and more than $15,000 in other money from a 70-year-old woman after he agreed to complete two deals for her.
Aleman had agreed to sell the coins for an agreed-upon price, but he is accused of not returning the profits from the sale. Additionally, he allegedly promised to produce a life insurance policy worth $30,000 for a $15,000 fee and then failed to deliver. In both instances, police allege that he kept the proceeds.
“It’s an investment scheme,” Kirsopp said.
According to Kirsopp, Aleman obtained the victim’s information from a Florida company that she used and he had previously worked for. State police said that they do not currently suspect the Florida company of any involvement in this incident.
Aleman was arrested at the Schenectady Amtrak station, where he was planning on meeting the woman in person. The arrest was the product of a five-month investigation, and that probe is continuing. Police are looking into other funds the victim allegedly gave to Aleman.
Kirsopp declined to comment on the purpose of the scheduled meeting between Aleman and the victim.
Aleman is due back in court Aug. 4.
State police don’t suspect that Aleman had dealings with other people in the area, but they said it’s possible that there were other instances of fraud in the New York City area. They are asking that any person familiar with similar dealings by Aleman contact the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at the Clifton Park station at 383-8583.
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