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Cops: Couple faked kidnapping to get money for drugs

Originally published: June 14, 2010 11:03 AM
Updated: June 14, 2010 9:53 PM
By JOHN VALENTI AND ZEKE MILLER.  john.valenti@newsday.com,, zeke.miller@newsday.com

Quick ReadThe two are under arrest, charged with second-degree attempted grand larceny and fifth-degree conspiracy.

Zifiris Valsamis, 24, and Stephanie Benatatos, 21, are

Photo credit: SCPD | Zifiris Valsamis, 24, and Stephanie Benatatos, 21, are charged with grand larceny and conspiracy after faking their own kidnapping in hopes of getting ransom money from her parents, Suffolk police said. (June 13, 2010)

They claimed they had been kidnapped by two armed men in a sport utility vehicle who were holding them in return for money the kidnappers owed for drugs, police said.

It turned out Mastic Beach couple Stephanie Benatatos, 21, and Zifiris "John" Valsamis, 24, faked the whole episode Sunday in an attempt to obtain $400 from her parents to buy illegal narcotics, authorities said.

Now the...

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