The alleged victim, 92, was tricked into believing her grandson was arrested
Sylvester Odiase Jr., left, and Marquelle Collins, the two New Jersey men arrested and charged with second-degree grand larceny. The group bilked a 92-year-old woman out of more than $300,000, authorities allege. Two New Jersey men are among five people who allegedly conned a senior citizen into giving them more than $300,000.
Impersonating a police officer, one of the scammers called a 92-year-old and sold the woman on the idea that her grandson had been arrested, according to LoHud.com.
The man on the phone convinced the elderly victim to make two deposits totaling $308,000 into an account so her grandson could be released from jail, authorities allege.
After learning several days later she had been tricked, the Harrison, N.Y. resident contacted police.
Authorities tracked the suspects through the use of electronic and physical surveillance and after executing search warrants in the Bronx, N.Y. and New Jersey, according to MidHudsonNews.com. The five were arrested in Missouri City, Texas last week, the report said.
Sylvester Odiase Jr., 34, of Edgewater and Marquelle Collins, 28, of Bound Brook were arrested and charged with second-degree grand larceny. Odiase's 54-year-old mother Rachell Odiase of the Bronx, N.Y., Cicelia Rivera, 32, of Brooklyn, N.Y. woman and Brittany Yearling, 32, of Missouri City face the same charge.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office assisted was among the agencies assisting in the investigation, LoHud.com said.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
