Mendez
WHITE PLAINS – A Nanuet man was arraigned in Greenburgh Town Court on a charge of felony criminal possession of stolen property.
Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. said Andrew Mendez, 22, created a synthetic identity using his actual name and date of birth along with the Social Security number of an unsuspecting 10-year-old victim. He then opened bank accounts to establish credit with that identity.
Investigators believe Mendez was able to use the child’s Social Security number because banks and credit agencies had no record for that number and were therefore unaware that the number identified a child. Once the accounts were established, he leased/financed vehicles using the same synthetic ID which now could sustain a credit check.
On February 1, Mendez financed a 2017 Toyota Camry from Westchester Toyota in Yonkers giving the child’s Social Security number as his own. The following day he leased a 2017 Honda Accord Sport from White Plains Honda in White Plains using the same manufactured identity.
He made no payments toward either vehicle and had been driving them with a revoked license and lapsed insurance.
The investigation began in May and culminated in Mendez’s arrest last Friday as he left Town of Greenburgh Court. He had appeared for an aggravated unlicensed operation and aggravated driving while intoxicated case from March 26.
Mendez allegedly drove to court in the stolen and fraudulently purchased Toyota. DA investigators recovered the Honda Accord at an auto body shop in the Bronx.
Bail was set at $50,000 cash or bond. If convicted, he faces a maximum of seven years in state prison. Further charges are pending, authorities said.
Mendez also has a DWI case pending in Yonkers.
