Man Accused Of Altering Checks Meant For IRS: Darien Police

DARIEN, CT — Darien police said Tuesday they arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with a check altering scheme from over a year ago.

Officers went to the Morris County Correction Center in New Jersey on Feb. 19 to take custody of David Velazquez, of Warren, N.J., on an extraditable arrest warrant that charged him with first-degree identity theft, first-degree larceny and third-degree forgery, Darien police said in a crime summary update.

The arrest stems from an incident that was reported on May 19, 2023.

A man reported to police that he mailed two personal checks on Jan. 16, 2023 to pay his taxes, according to police.

The IRS contacted the man regarding nonpayment on his taxes, police said, adding that the man checked his bank statement and discovered both checks had cleared, but the payee was changed from the IRS to "Love Flow Logistics" and endorsed by Velazquez.

Police said the check amounts and the man's signature were not changed. The check amounts were not disclosed by police.

A Darien detective obtained a search warrant for bank records, which showed Velazquez as an account owner, police said.

Another search warrant was granted for IP address information, which led to an address where Velazquez lives, police said. A detective spoke to Velazquez who said the checks were received as payment to his company and that he could provide documentation, but he never did, police added.

An arrest warrant with a court-set bond of $100,000 was issued for Velazquez on Sept. 7, 2023.

Velazquez is scheduled to appear in court on March 4.