Crime & Safety
Cops: Man Used Dating Site to Scam Woman in Williston Park
Holbrook resident Jose Ruela allegedly stole $3,200 from woman he met online.
Nassau County Police arrested a Holbrook man on grand larceny and criminal impersonation charges in Williston Park Thursday.
According to police, Jose Ruela, 44, met with a 44-year old female victim in front of 374 Hillside Ave. on July 24 at 3:15 p.m. Ruela had reportedly first made contact with the woman through a dating website, identified himself as a U.S. Marshal, a retired NYPD police officer and gave her a fictitious name.
Ruela allegedly convinced the victim to lend him $3,200 because his vehicle had been repossessed. In exchange for the cash, Ruela gave the woman a fake check signed by him and a title to a vehicle he no longer owned as collateral.
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On Aug. 2, Ruela told the woman to cash the check when she asked for her money back but was told by the bank that it was fraudulent.
Police arrested Ruela in front of his residence on Oct. 17. He is being charged with third degree grand larceny, second degree possession of a forged instrument, first degree criminal impersonation and will be arraigned on Friday, Oct. 18.
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