South Florida detective charged with ID theft
South Florida detective charged with ID theft
MIAMI — A South Florida police officer is facing federal fraud charges.
The FBI arrested Sweetwater detective William Garcia on Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that Garcia is charged using a counterfeit access device and aggravated identity theft.
Authorities say Garcia participated in a counterfeit credit card scheme in late 2010 through 2011. Garcia’s criminal activities reportedly included using his own credit card to make fraudulent credit cards, hiding evidence when a co-conspirator was arrested and ultimately possessing and using counterfeit cards that Garcia claimed had been seized during the course of his duties.
Garcia’s arrest comes just weeks after Sweetwater Mayor Manuel Marono was arrested and charged in an unrelated kickback scheme involving federal grants.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Garcia had an attorney.
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