By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
BETHLEHEM — Four people were arrested and face numerous charges in connection with what Bethlehem Police are calling an “identity theft ring.”
Police say the four are accused of stealing approximately $100,000.
The four individuals who were arrested as part of the investigation were Davon Parson, 19, of Albany; Evan Cutler, 23, of Menands; Dnauticah Taylor-Sherman, 20, of Menands; and Caeshara Cannon, 34, of Watervliet.
“The suspects in the investigation were going to SEFCU branches and using fraudulent documents to steal money and open loans using other people’s identities,” according to a statement from Bethlehem Police.
The investigation was launched after police were contacted when an individual at the SEFCU branch at 12 Vista Boulevard in Slingerlands allegedly attempted to withdraw $20,000 from an account using fictitious identification. A second individual was also arrested at that time.
Bethlehem Police worked with SEFCU Fraud Prevention to identify several additional individuals accused of being involved with the ring. Cannon, one of the four who were arrested, was an employee at the SEFCU branch on Route 9W in Glenmont.
Davon Parson, 19, of Albany, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, first-degree identity theft, and second-degree possession of a forged instrument, all class D felonies; first-degree falsifying business records, a class E felony; and criminal impersonation and fifth-degree conspiracy, both class A misdemeanors.
Evan Cutler, 23, of Menands, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, first-degree identity theft, and second-degree possession of a forged instrument, all class D felonies; first-degree falsifying business records, a class E felony; fifth-degree conspiracy and second-degree criminal impersonation, both a class A misdemeanors; false personation, a class B misdemeanor; second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, an unclassified misdemeanor; and operating without insurance and unlicensed operator, both traffic infractions.
Dnauticah Taylor-Sherman, 20, of Menands, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, first-degree identity theft and second-degree possession of a forged instrument, all class D felonies; first-degree falsifying business records, a class E felony; and second-degree criminal impersonation, a class A misdemeanor.
Caeshara Cannon, 34, of Watervliet, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, first-degree identity theft and second-degree possession of a forged instrument, all class D felonies; and first-degree falsifying business records, a class E felony.
All four were arraigned in Town of Bethlehem Court and were released. They are scheduled to return to court Nov. 15.
Bethlehem Police worked with the Albany County Sheriff’s Department to execute search warrants at several locations outside the town of Bethlehem. An illegal handgun was recovered at one of the locations, according to police.
The investigation into the case is ongoing, police said.
