The Defendants Allegedly Used Others’ Identities to Open Accounts and Make Purchases

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrests of ANANDA GABRIEL, AAMEER WAIGHT, ABILIO SANCHEZ, ANTHONY COLON, RASHAD PROVOST and JONATHAN LYNCE, who are accused of grand larceny, identity theft, and other related charges, for their roles in an identity theft scheme at Lowe’s stores. The scheme allegedly involved multiple Lowe’s credit card accounts being opened in the names of multiple victims, which were used to make fraudulent purchases of gift cards totaling over $25,000 from various Lowe’s store locations throughout Suffolk County.

“These arrests allege a pattern of identity theft that represents a significant breach of personal security for victims across the United States,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Charges of identity theft often intersect with retail theft, as stolen identities are often used to make fraudulent purchases, potentially leading to substantial losses for merchants as well as headaches for consumers.”

According to the investigation, between October 2023 and February 2024, the defendants allegedly opened Lowe’s credit card accounts online using the names and identities of multiple individuals who reside all over the United States, without their knowledge or consent.

The defendants then allegedly used those accounts to purchase more than $25,000 worth of gift cards from various Lowe’s store locations throughout New York. At least five Suffolk County Lowe’s store locations were targeted, including Commack, Bay Shore, Farmingdale, Medford and Stony Brook.

Additionally, in November 2023, GABRIEL allegedly rented an apartment in Patchogue using the identity of another Suffolk County resident without their consent or awareness. To date, GABRIEL has allegedly not paid any rent for that apartment.

On August 6, 2024, all six defendants were arrested by members of the Suffolk County Police Department.

GABRIEL, 23, of Patchogue, was charged with:

•   One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
•   Five counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, Class D felonies;
•   One count of Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a Class E felony;
•   Two counts of Identity Theft in the Third Degree, Class A misdemeanors;
•   One count of Attempted Petit Larceny, a Class B misdemeanor; and
•   One count of Attempted Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a Class B misdemeanor.WAIGHT, 22, of Central Islip, was charged with:

•   One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
•   One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony.SANCHEZ, 20, of Huntington Station, was charged with:

•   One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
•   One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony.COLON, 25, of Bay Shore, was charged with:
•   One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
•   One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony;

•   One count of Attempted Petit Larceny, a Class B misdemeanor; and
•   One count of Attempted Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a Class B misdemeanor.PROVOST, 23, of Mastic Beach, was charged with:

•   One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
•   One count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
•   One count of Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a Class E felony; and
•   One count of Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.LYNCE, 22, of Central Islip, was charged with:
•   One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and
•   Two counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, Class D felonies.On August 6, 2024, the defendants were arraigned on the charges before District Court Judge Steven Weissbard.

  Judge Weissbard ordered GABRIEL released from jail without bail because her charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. She was placed on supervised release with GPS conditions. GABRIEL is due back in court on August 9, 2024, and she is being represented by Robert Macedonio, Esq.

  Judge Weissbard ordered WAIGHT released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. WAIGHT is due back in court on August 27, 2024, and he is being represented by Del Atwell, Esq.

  Judge Weissbard ordered SANCHEZ released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. SANCHEZ is due back in court on August 14, 2024, and he is being represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered COLON released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. He was placed on supervised release during the pendency of the case. COLON is due back in court on August 27, 2024, and he is being represented by Oscar Crisafio, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered PROVOST released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. PROVOST is due back in court on August 19, 2024, and he is being represented by Harmon Lutzer, Esq.

Judge Weissbard ordered LYNCE released from jail without bail because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. LYNCE is due back in court on August 19, 2024, and he is being represented by Toni Mari Angeli, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lightstone of the Financial Crimes Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Dan Pagano of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit, with investigative assistance from the District Attorney’s Gun Crime Reduction Unit and the Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Precinct Anti-Crime Unit and Warrants Squad.