Newark Police have charged two Bronx, New York residents with multiple counts of identity theft after a Main Street traffic stop, according to Newark police Spokesman Sgt. Gerald Bryda.
Bryda said on Thursday, October 25, 2018, a Newark Police officer was on routine patrol on East Main Street at approximately 9:15 p.m. The officer observed a vehicle pull out onto East Main Street and was driving with no headlights on.
The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver. Bryda said the male driver, claiming to be from the United Kingdom, presented the officer with a piece of paper that contained a photocopied foreign driver’s license.
During the stop, the man’s female passenger gave a conflicting account as to their identities, according to Bryda.
The officer was unable to confirm the identity of the driver. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of various bank account and legal documents containing multiple identities, according to Bryda. A large amount of United States and foreign currency was also located in the vehicle.
Unable to confirm either person’s identity, officers took the pair into custody. During a search at police headquarters, officers located five credit cards and three fictitious drivers licenses on the female, all of which contained the male’s picture, said Bryda.
After further investigation, officers were able to identify the male driver as 49-year-old John A. Medina of Bronx, NY and the female passenger as 33-year-old Grace Umoffia of Bronx, NY.
Based upon the paperwork, credit cards, and fictitious drivers’ licenses, all of which had stolen identity’s on them, officers filed the following charges:
John A. Medina (No Mugshot)
Identity Theft (4 Counts)
Forgery 2nd Degree (14 Counts)
Conspiracy 2nd Degree
Driving Without Headlights
Grace Umoffia
Identity Theft (4 counts)
Conspiracy 2nd Degree
John Medina was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #11 and issued $140,001 cash bond. Medina was transported to Howard R. Young Correctional Institute in lieu of bail.
Grace Umoffia was arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court #11 and issued $84,000 cash bond. Umoffia was transported to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute in lieu of bail.
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Anderson at [email protected] or 302-366-7100 ext. 3469 or Officer Vari at [email protected] or 302-366-7100 ext. 3486