Crime & Safety

Port Man Arrested for Identity Theft

Used identification of elderly man suffering from dementia to open credit card accounts

According to the 7th Precinct's Crimes Against Property Squad detectives, Earl Grenfell, 50, of Port Washington, used the personal identification of an 86-year-old man suffering from dementia to open credit card accounts on Oct. 14 in Massapequa. Police said the defendant allegedly used these accounts for his personal benefit.

The subsequent investigation of Grenfell's actions began when the victim's caregiver noticed irregularities in the victim's credit reports and that credit cards were recently opened in the victim's name.

On Dec. 23, Grenfell was arrested and charged with three counts of Identity Theft in the 2nd Degree. He will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Jan. 5, 2010.


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