[media-credit name=”Moses ASSI / DSP” align=”alignnone” width=”999″]
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New Castle – Delaware State Police detectives have arrested a Maryland man, for his involvement in an identify theft scheme, in which he attempted to purchase a new vehicle using fictitious identification, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.
New Castle – Austin said the incident began at approximately 1:18 p.m., Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at the Carmen Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership, located at 196 S. DuPont Highway, New Castle, when a salesperson became suspicious of a customer, whom he believed was attempting to use fictitious identification to purchase a vehicle.
Detectives responded to the dealership and made contact with the suspect, who was ultimately identified as Moses Assi, 33, of College Park Maryland. The ensuing investigation determined that Assi was attempting to purchase a 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, valued at $69,000.00 using a fictitious Maryland drivers license, according to Austin. Further investigation revealed that the information on the license was actually that of a California man who had no association with Assi, said Austin.
Assi was taken in to custody without incident and transported to Delaware State Police Troop 2, where he was arrested and formally charged with 1 count each of Attempted Theft Over $50,000.00, Identity Theft, Possession of Burglary Tools, and Making a False Statement. Assi was additionally charged with 2 counts of Forgery 2nd Degree and 3 counts of Criminal Impersonation.
Assi was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, in lieu of $30,000.00 cash bail.
The investigation into Assi’s activity is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective S. Mauchin of the Troop 2 Financial Crimes Unit by calling 302-365-8414.
Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com