Three members of a New York fraud operation arrested in Herkimer

HERKIMER, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — According to Herkimer Police, three people were arrested in Herkimer on Monday, May 20, after attempting to make a withdrawal using a fake driver’s license.

Officers were called to the Woodforest Bank at the Wal-Mart in Herkimer Village around 6 p.m. Monday in response to a call from a woman who said she was trying to withdraw money using a fake driver’s license. The woman – later identified as 49-year-old Kelly Arrigo of Brooklyn – was taken into custody.

Two men Arrigo was allegedly traveling with – Jason and Jordan Arzu, both 24 years old and from the Bronx – were in the area of ​​their vehicle, near the Arc Goods Store, not far from Wal-Mart. They were taken into custody shortly afterwards.

Police later learned that all three suspects had stopped in Herkimer on the way to Buffalo. Further investigation revealed that the suspects were allegedly planning to commit fraud at banking institutions from New York City to Buffalo.

As the investigation continued, police determined that the three suspects were suspected members of a criminal enterprise that committed fraud using stolen identities from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

During the investigation it was also discovered that Arrigo had an extensive criminal history in the area. Further investigation revealed that Jason Arzu had a forgery and identity theft case pending in Pennsylvania and was released on bail, and that Jordan Arzu had a firearms forgery case pending in New York.

All three people were charged with the following:

• Second Degree Felony: Possession of a Forged Instrument, a Class D Felony,
• Attempted Grand Theft in the Fourth Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor, and
• Fifth-degree conspiracy, a Class A misdemeanor.

All three suspects were transported to the Herkimer County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail and $20,000 bond. Additional charges are pending, according to Herkimer police.