Bronx Man Stole Identity Of Suffolk County Residents, Admits It: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Bronx man pleaded guilty to stealing the identities of multiple Suffolk County residents and then using their information to get money, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Friday.

Donald Archibald, 44, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of grand larceny and identity theft.

"Identity theft is on the rise not just in Suffolk County but nationwide," Tierney said in a news release. "These crimes can happen to anyone and often have lasting effects on the victims for years. My office will continue to partner with the Suffolk County Police Department and our other law enforcement partners to hold these defendants accountable."

On April 13, around 12:12 p.m., after obtaining his first victim’s Suffolk County address and contact information off the dark web, Archibald entered an M&T Bank in Bridgeport, Connecticut and displayed a fake driver's license to the bank teller, according to court documents. The license displayed the victim’s correct name and address but had Archibald's face on it, investigators said. Archibald presented the teller a withdrawal slip and withdrew $2,000 from the victim’s checking account, prosecutors said.

Just over 20 minutes later that day, Archibald entered a different M&T Bank branch in Bridgeport, Connecticut and used the same Suffolk County resident’s bank account information and a "washed" check to withdraw $3,000 in cash from the victim’s account, the DA said.

In a similar scheme, on April 14, after once again obtaining another Suffolk County resident’s personal information off the dark web, Archibald entered a TD Bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and displayed a fake driver’s license with a picture of his own face but with the victim’s information, prosecutors said. Archibald then cashed a $4,500 "washed" check in the victim's name, officials said.

The dark web is a part of the internet that is made up of hidden sites people can't find through conventional web browsers, according to Norton. Criminals use the dark web to peddle stolen personal data, financial data, online account login data, medical data, corporate data and forged data, according to Aura.com. Risks of using the dark web include severe legal consequences, device infection, no security and financial scams.

Archibald pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of third-degree grand larceny, two counts of first-degree identity theft, one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, and one count of second-degree identity theft.

Archibald is due back in court on March 13 for sentencing and is expected to be sentenced to one to three years in prison. He is being represented by Christopher Brocato.