Identity thief who plagued victim with fishing violations hooked by DEC

December 5, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

ECOs Kortz (left) and Keegan with the blackfish caught by the unlicensed identity thief. Photo: DEC

Share this:

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — AN UNLICENSED ANGLER who stole the identity of an innocent victim and racked up numerous violations in Brooklyn waters was reeled in by two diligent Department of Environmental Conservation officers last month. On the day the lawbreaker was required to appear in court to pay his fines, the befuddled victim — who received multiple notices despite never fishing — showed up instead. DEC Environmental Conservation Officer Kortz investigated and verified that the victim had recently been a victim of identity theft, with multiple credit cards opened in their name. Determined to hold the real culprit accountable, ECOs Kortz and Keegan patrolled the fishing area and successfully found the actual culprit — with a haul of blackfish — on board the same unregistered inflatable vessel they had previously ticketed.

After the scammer refused to cooperate, Kortz arrested them for false impersonation, as well as numerous fish and wildlife violations, and slapped them with tickets for each violation committed with the false identity.

✰✰✰