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Flushing man busted for stealing a man’s identity to buy a luxury car in Brooklyn

Prosecutors said a Flushing man stole someone's idea to purchase an Acura NSX similar to this one, valued at more than $200,000, from a Brooklyn auto dealer.
Photo via Shutterstock

A Flushing man took a ride to a Brooklyn courtroom on Monday morning after being indicted on charges of stealing another man’s personal information to purchase a luxury sports car, prosecutors announced.

Brian White, 45, allegedly stole an Acura NSX valued at $240,000 through the fraudulent transaction that took place in Midwood, Brooklyn, according to acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

“Using a stolen identity, this defendant allegedly bought a luxury vehicle worth nearly a quarter of a million dollars leaving an unknowing victim with an astronomical bill,” Gonzalez said. “After a thorough investigation that utilized cutting-edge technology he has now been caught and will face prosecution for his brazen scheme.”

Law enforcement sources said that White walked into the Plaza Auto Mall in Midwood on March 22 of this year and made a deal to purchase the Acura NSX. He presented a forged driver’s license with the victim’s name, as well as the victim’s Social Security number, insurance documents and credit information, in order to fill out a finance application. After getting approval, White left the dealership with the vehicle.

Several weeks after the illegal transaction was made, prosecutors said, the victim received in the mail paperwork about the purchase. He realized that he was the victim of identity fraud and subsequently contacted Plaza Auto Mall, which then reached out to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.

White was linked to the crime after detectives checked his photo, taken by a security camera at the dealership, through facial recognition software. Gonzalez said the case was further solidified as White and the Acura NSX were identified through an examination of phone records, plate readers and other information gathered during the probe.

Law enforcement agents initially took White into custody on Aug. 15 on a criminal complaint. He appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court again on Sept. 25 for arraignment on the subsequent indictment charging him with  second-, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-, second- and third-degree identity theft and related counts.

White was ordered held on $300,000 bond or $150,000 cash and to return to court on Nov. 1. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.