DA busts $1M ID theft ring

One ill-placed phone call to the house of a New York City Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Chief led to an eight-month investigation culminating in 11 individuals being charged with corruption, conspiracy and fraud in a $1 million identity theft ring.
Four individuals from Queens, including one of the alleged ringleaders, Vincent Grillo, 38, of Bayside, and seven from Massachusetts, allegedly identified themselves as Homeland Security Officials and made phone calls to unsuspecting residents telling them their credit card information was stolen and they wanted to rectify the situation. In some cases, the defendants left a phone number to call them back.
However, one of the phone calls they made was to the father of NYPD Deputy Chief Joellen Kunkel. After missing two calls from one of the alleged defendants Kunkel called back the number they had left, and immediately smelled something fishy.
&#8220I have been doing this for 26 years, and I felt that they were trying to rip somebody off,” Kunkel said. &#8220I knew they weren't legit. There's no reason to ask about credit cards . . . just experience tells you it wasn't legit; they were trying to hurt somebody.”
Kunkel reported her suspicions to the NYPD's intelligence division, which led to a joint investigation with the Queens District Attorney's Economic Crimes Bureau.
During the eight-month investigation, authorities used physical surveillance, intelligence gathering and court-authorized electronic eavesdropping, intercepting more than 30,000 conversations.
Once the defendants obtained the personal information, they allegedly used the information to set up wire transfers where other defendants would identify themselves as relatives, pick up the funds and bring them back to Rizzo, according to the indictment. In addition, they would use the alleged stolen personal information to purchase expensive items including electronics and jewelry and sell those for cash.
&#8220The lesson in this case is a simple one; don't give anyone your personal identity information,” said NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly. &#8220Law Enforcement is never going to call you on the phone and ask you for your credit references, never going to ask you for your credit card numbers. If you get a call like that, it is definitely a scam.”
Vincent Grillo, his father, John Grillo, Sr., and brother John Grillo, Jr., and David Vega were arraigned recently in Queens Supreme Court.
District Attorney Richard A. Brown said this case is another example of the dangers of identity fraud and identity theft, which are two of the fastest growing crimes in the country.
&#8220The case is a reminder to the public that they must be diligent in protecting their personal identifying information especially during the busy holiday season when scam artists are most active,” Brown said.
SEE OP-ED ON PAGE 17.