Florida Man Charged In $400,000 Ripoff Of Tolland County Woman

TOLLAND, CT — A Florida man is accused of scamming a Tolland County woman out of more than $400,000 after befriending her through an online dating site, state police said.

The exact amount was $437,800 and involved seven wire transfers, state police said.

State police from the Troop C barracks began investigating the case on Jan. 12, 2019, when the 61-year-old woman informed troopers of the scheme according to both a warrant and arrest report.

The woman said it originated via the website OurTime.com, which specializes in relationships for mature singles.

The woman said that, from Nov. 7, 2018 through Dec. 26, 2018, she was defrauded over the Internet by two men named Teddy Banas and Charles Zacks.

State police said, through a "lengthy investigation" with the assistance of the United States Secret Service, a suspect was identified — 32-year-old Kennard Banks, whose last known address was in Boyton Beach, FL. Banks was a part of an "international criminal enterprise operating cyber fraud, cyber scams and money laundering operations," state police said.

A warrant was issued for Banks' arrest on Feb. 20 on charges that include first-degree larceny, second-degree money laundering and corrupt organization and racketeering activity. The warrant came with a court-set bond of $500,000 and an extradition , order, state police said.

On June 11, banks was located at his residence by the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and was taken into custody as a fugitive from justice, according to a report. Banks waived extradition on July 22 and, on Wednesday, detectives picked Banks up in Florida and and transported him back to Connecticut, according to a report.

Banks was held on the half-million-dollar bond and is was to be arraigned in Danielson Superior Court on Thursday.

According to a warrant, Banks posed as an engineer working on several international submarine projects and convinced the woman to aid him financially. Aside from the business investments, Banks convinced the woman to send him money for lawyers and other assistance while he was being "detained" in Indonesia, according to a warrant.