Elder scam in North Long Beach foiled, Nassau police say

A New Jersey man had been charged for allegedly attempting to scam an 88-year-old man out of $5,500 in North Long Beach, Nassau police said.

The victim received a phone call Tuesday stating his grandson had been in an accident and needed money, according to police. The caller then instructed the man to put $5,500 in a package, label it M2125, and told him a man named "Richard," who would be wearing a brown hat, would come to pick it up. The victim then confirmed his grandson was not in an accident and contacted police.

Police said that Larry Urtarte, 28, of Paterson, New Jersey, then arrived on Tuesday as "Richard" and asked for the cash-filled package, which the victim handed him. As detectives moved in to arrest Urtarte, police said he attempted to flee, then later resisted arrest while being handcuffed. Police said no injuries were reported.

Police said Urtarte was initially given a desk appearance ticket, returnable Feb. 1, and charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny and resisting arrest. Police later also charged Urtarte with fourth-degree grand larceny.

He had been scheduled for arraignment Wednesday on all charges in First District Court in Hempstead but updated information on his appearance was not immediately available.

It was also not immediately clear if Urtarte was represented by counsel.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”