June 8 – A New Jersey man was arrested in Star City earlier this week after police received information about an alleged impersonation scheme.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Star City Police Chief Jessica Colebank, her department received a call from a Texas resident who said his identity had been used to create a fictitious AT&T online account that was then used to buy an Apple iPad Pro, valued at around $1,400, on a monthly payment plan.
The iPad was scheduled to be delivered on June 6 to a residence on Crawford Avenue in Star City on behalf of the victim. The victim confirmed that she had no connection to the Crawford Avenue address.
On June 6, Colebank waited outside the delivery residence and upon delivery confirmed it was the correct package via FedEx. She also observed that the package was placed inside the screen door at the main entrance.
Shortly after, a man later identified as Diogenes Y Chal Reyes, 31, of Jersey City, NJ, arrived in a black BMW sedan. Colebank watched Reyes walk to the front door, knock several times, then open the screen door and take the package.
Colebank performed a traffic check on the BMW shortly after leaving the residence and observed the package in the front passenger seat.
Reyes allegedly told Colebank that he had come to pick up the package for his friend in Pennsylvania named “William”, but said he did not know his friend William’s last name. William, Colebank noted, is the victim’s first name and was the name on the packaging.
Reyes said he was to receive $300 from his alleged friend when he brought the package to him in Pennsylvania.
Colebank contacted the victim who confirmed he did not know Reyes and did not authorize the use of his name or credentials to open accounts or purchase items in his name.
Reyes is charged with impersonation and theft of services. He was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrates Court before Judge Ron Bane, who set bail at $20,000.
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