Cops: Man charged in $9G student loan scam

A Queens man allegedly made a copy of a North Massapequa man's driver's license, then forged the man's signature on student loan applications to steal $9,000, Nassau County police said Friday.

Curtis E. McLaurin, 27, of 78-27 88th Ave., Woodhaven, is charged with grand larceny, forgery and identity theft in the scam, Seventh Squad detectives said.

McLaurin was arrested Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead, where police said he was appearing on an unrelated charge.

Detectives said on July 27, 2006, McLaurin was able to copy the driver's license of an 87-year-old North Massapequa man. McLaurin's mother was an aide in the victim's home, police said.

Police said McLaurin then used the copy of the license to apply for Sallie Mae student loans and forged the victim's signature as a co-signer on the applications.

McLaurin received two checks totaling $9,000 in the scam and cashed them, police said. The checks were never repaid. The victim was notified the loans were in default in April 2010, leaving him responsible for repaying the balance, police said.