More Than $34K Stolen From Business In Fraud Scheme, 2 Charged: Wallingford Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — A 23-year-old East Granby man and a juvenile have been arrested in connection with a fraud scheme in Wallingford, according to police.

Police received a complaint in March that someone had stolen and forged a local business’s checks that were taken from the mail for the amounts of $21,775 and $12,604.50, according to Lt. Stephen Jaques.

Jaques said a juvenile was identified as one of the suspects after an “extensive investigation and numerous search warrants.”

Investigators found that Christopher Collins, 23, of East Granby, had contacted the juvenile to deposit the checks for him at different bank locations and would pay him $5,000, according to Jaques.

“Investigators tracked the movement of money through various accounts and financial technology companies, ultimately leading to the arrest of both the juvenile and Collins,” Jaques wrote.

The juvenile was arrested Aug. 21 on charges of third-degree money laundering, conspiracy to commit third-degree money laundering, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, third-degree forgery, conspiracy to commit third-degree forgery, fraud use of ATM, and conspiracy to commit fraud use of ATM.

The juvenile appeared in juvenile court on Sept. 15, according to Jaques.

Collins was arrested Sept. 24 on charges of third-degree money laundering, conspiracy to commit third-degree money laundering, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third-degree forgery, and conspiracy to commit fraud use of ATM. He was released after posting a $45,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 7.