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Man charged with grand theft in connection to $80,000 fraud scheme in Martin County

By Treasure Coast

Man charged with grand theft in connection to $80,000 fraud scheme in Martin County

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MARTIN COUNTY - A man has been jailed on charges related to a $80,000 fraud scheme, according to Martin County Sheriff's officials.

Satish Kumar, 39, of Fresno, California, was arrested Dec. 19 on charges of scheming to defraud and two counts of second-degree grand theft. He's accused of instructing a man to withdraw $80,000 and then to meet with someone to give it to, according to his Martin County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit. Second-degree indicates the property said to be taken is valued between $20,000 and $100,000.

Deputies spoke to the man who withdrew the money who said it started when he received a pop-up on his computer. He said the pop-up indicated it was from Microsoft and had a phone number for him to call. He said he called the number and spoke at length with "David" -- who deputies later determined to be Kumar -- for several days.

The man was instructed to withdraw cash from different banks around Martin County adding up to $80,000. He was then told a "treasury agent" would meet with him to pick up the cash. He met with the "treasury agent," also later determined by deputies to be Kumar, and was instructed to conceal the money in a bag and tape the top. He said he gave him the bag and the "treasury agent" drove away.

The man said he was suspicious about the incident and went to the Sheriff's Office the next day to report it. He said "David" was attempting to get more money from him.

Detectives had him speak to "David" on a controlled phone call. On the phone call "David" instructed how he would like the money delivered. The detective went into the bank and told the bank tellers of the situation and instructed them to role play as if they were actually giving the man the money.

"David" told the man a "treasury agent" would meet him to get the money once again. After the "agent" left the meeting spot, deputies followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver, detectives later identified as Kumar, told detectives he traveled from Orlando and was on his way back, but could not give a reason as to why he was in Martin County. He was detained and brought in for questioning.

He changed his story multiple times during the interview process, according to his arrest affidavit. He told deputies he brought the $80,000 to Orlando where he gave it to another man, but he was able to keep $1,600 of it. When asked what he did with the $1,600, Kumar said he deposited it in the bank but then later changed his story and said he deposited $6,600 in the bank.

Kumar is currently in the Martin County Jail without bond. It is unclear if he has an attorney.

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