SOUTH FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A Bronx man was arrested on Friday after he allegedly placed a phone call to an 83-year-old man on Long Island and claimed to be his grandson in need of bail money, Nassau County Police said.
Cristhian Ortega Rodriguez, 24, is accused of making the fraudulent phone call, during which he said he was the older man’s grandson and had been arrested. Rodriguez allegedly told the victim that he needed him to call a lawyer named “Larry Hays” to hand off cash for bail.
Police said that the victim later realized that the call was a scam and contacted the authorities.
After being alerted about the scam, detectives were able to place the suspect under arrest as he attempted to pick up payment. During his arrest, police said that Rodriguez resisted and refused to comply with verbal commands.
Rodriguez is charged with third-degree grand larceny and resisting arrest.
He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday where he pleaded not guilty to all charges, court records show.
Bail was requested by the prosecutor but Rodriguez was released with non-monetary conditions, which include a temporary order of protection that was issued against him. He is expected back in court on Dec. 2.
Detectives request that anyone who feels they may have been a victim of Rodriguez to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.