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A man who allegedly stole the identities of people to create and fund more than 1,800 online gambling accounts was arrested last month, police said.
Casey Ennis, 44, of Audubon, has been charged with identity theft, credit card theft, computer crimes, theft by deception, forgery and possession of methamphetamine, police said Tuesday evening of the State of New Jersey.
An investigation was opened in January 2020 after detectives from the State Police’s Financial Crimes Unit were contacted by the New Jersey Gambling Enforcement Division to assist in a case involving gamblers. suspicious online gambling accounts, according to a state police statement.
Several victims reported that gambling accounts were created and funded using their identities without their permission, police said. Detectives alleged that Ennis stole the identity of the victims and fraudulently exploited the accounts of Atlantic City’s online game providers.
Investigators also alleged that Ennis was using the stolen identities to run an unemployment benefit scheme and created numerous bogus unemployment claims, authorities said. He is also accused of creating fake bank accounts using the identities of the victims and transferring funds from the claims to these accounts, then making cash withdrawals later.
Detectives have linked Ennis to more than $ 52,000 in fraudulent withdrawals and purchases, police say.
On May 14, police executed a search warrant at Ennis’ home, arrested him and seized more than 30 electronic devices, $ 491 in cash and 3 grams of methamphetamine, police said. He was released pending a future court date.
Identity theft is often traumatic for victims, as it is inherently one of the most invasive and intimate non-violent crimes around, and in addition to individual victims, businesses and consumers alike. all of them suffer the negative financial consequences of financial fraud. New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan said in a statement.
We want today’s announcement to warn identity thieves that we are looking for them and they will be brought to justice.
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Chris Sheldon can be contacted at [email protected].
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