New Jersey Woman Accused Of $7,800 Check Scam In Westport: Police

WESTPORT, CT — A 26-year-old North Brunswick, New Jersey, woman was arrested on a warrant by Westport police last week in connection with a $7,861 check scam, according to authorities.

Debyi Capellan-Paulino was charged with third-degree larceny, second-degree forgery and fraudulent use of an automated teller machine in connection with the crime, which was reported by a Westport resident in January.

Police said that the victim reported that a check "she mailed had been intercepted, altered, and deposited into a TD Bank account."

Westport Police Lt. Eric Woods told Patch that the original check the victim had mailed was for $150.72, which was altered to $7,861.00.

The name on the TD Bank account was Debyi Capellan-Paulino.

"Along with the account records, the investigating detective alsos ecured ATM surveillance footage of the transaction where Capellan-Paulino is alleged to have deposited the check," Woods said.

Westport police obtained a warrant for Capellan-Paulino's arrest, and in late November, "Franklin Township, NJ Police contacted Westport Police and advised that they had our suspect detained on a motor vehicle stop>

On Dec. 8, Westport police detectives took Capellan-Paulino into custody at the Somerset County Correctional Center in New Jersey, and transported her back to Westport.

She is being held in lieu of bail of $50,000, and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court at a later date.