Fake ID used by 61-year-old man to take money from another man's bank account
A 61-year-old man was charged with grand larceny for swiping more than $20,000 from another man's bank account, Nassau County police said.
Phillippe Berkowitz, who is homeless, allegedly made multiple unauthorized withdrawals at Bethpage Federal Credit Union before getting caught, police said in a news release. On Feb. 5, the client noticed the illicit transactions and notified the bank, prompting a flag on his account.
On Feb. 9, a Bethpage Federal Credit Union teller at the Hillside Avenue branch in North New Hyde Park thwarted the alleged scam when Berkowitz approached with phony identification and tried to take money from the account, police said. The teller immediately notified police and Berkowitz was arrested without incident.
He is charged with two counts of grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, identity theft, and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
At an arraignment at First District Cout in Hempstead on Saturday, Berkowitz pleaded not guilty. Bail was set at $400,000 partially secured surety bond, $40,000 insured bond or $20,000 cash.
Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.
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