2 Charged In Hotel Fraud Scheme In Wallingford: Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — Two people have been arrested in connection with a hotel fraud scheme in Wallingford, according to police.

They are accused of using multiple victims’ credit cards at a hotel in Wallingford.

An investigation was launched in April 2025 when police received a complaint that a hotel guest used a credit card that wasn’t theirs to pay for a stay, according to Lt. Stephen Jaques.

Jaques said that 31-year-old Emanuel Ranger claimed that his aunt had authorized him to pay for a longer-term stay at the hotel with her payment card.

“During the ruse, officers contacted a female claiming to be the cardholder and verified the payment,” Jaques wrote in a news release.

After numerous search warrants, Jaques said it was discovered that 30-year-old Anju Mathew of Hamden was “complicit in the fraud scheme alongside Ranger.”

Jaques said Ranger and Mathew used payment card information from numerous victims to try to pay for the hotel stay in April 2025.

Police obtained arrest warrants for both Mathew and Ranger.

Ranger, of Bridgeport, was arrested Nov. 3 on charges of third-degree larceny, two counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, criminal attempt at third-degree larceny, criminal attempt at fourth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny, two counts of less than $500 on revoked payment card, two counts of conspiracy to commit less than $500 on revoked payment card, receipt from illegal use of credit card, conspiracy to commit receipt from illegal use of credit card, second-degree identity theft, conspiracy to commit second-degree identity theft, illegal traffic in personal ID info, conspiracy to commit illegal traffic in personal ID info, criminal impersonation and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation.

He was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 6, according to state judicial records.

Mathew was arrested Sept. 3 on charges of third-degree larceny, criminal attempt to commit third-degree larceny, two counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, criminal attempt to commit fourth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny, two counts of less than $500 on revoked payment card, two counts of conspiracy to commit less than $500 on revoked payment card, receipt from illegal use of credit card, conspiracy to commit receipt from illegal use of credit card, second-degree identity theft, conspiracy to commit second-degree identity theft, illegal traffic in personal ID info, conspiracy to commit illegal traffic in personal ID info, criminal impersonation, and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. She was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 28.