Duo Scammed Elderly Man Out Of Nearly $150,000: Nassau Police

A man and woman were arrested this week and charged with scamming an elderly Nassau man out of nearly $150,000, police said.

According to police, a 79-year-old man was called by an unknown man who said the victim had won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. He told the man to make multiple deposits, on multiple dates, totaling more than $147,000. The elderly man was told it was to pay for fees and taxes for his winnings.

On March 5, the elderly man was contacted again and told to deliver $25,000 to an address in Queens Village. The police were called, and an investigation led to the arrest of Lenkeisha Bolton, 28, of 113th Avenue.

On March 7, police also arrested Dimitri Blanchard, 26, of Harrison Avenue, Baldwin, for his participation in the scheme, police said.

Bolton is charged with third-degree grand larceny (attempt), fifth-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree criminal facilitation. Blanchard was charged with third-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal facilitation and fifth-degree conspiracy. Both were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.