by: Rodney Overton
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) — A Cary man claimed he was an FBI agent as he swindled $16,000 from a North Carolina man in a case of elder exploitation, according to an arrest warrant from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation
After a month-long investigation, Christopher Aaron Murray, 40, of Cary, was arrested Sunday at the main airport in Charlotte, according to an NC SBI news release Sunday
Authorities said the suspect targeted an eastern North Carolina family and there “may be additional victims.”
“The scam involved a suspect contacting victims and falsely claiming their bank account had been compromised, then demanding payment to resolve the issue,” the SBI said in the release.
SBI officials said the Jones County Sheriff’s Office sought help in the matter on March 18.
The arrest warrant said the suspect claimed he was “FBI Special Agent Brian Blauser” and also pretended to be “a Wells Fargo agent.” A real FBI agent named Brian Blauser appears to exist in Denver, Colorado, as a “complex financial crimes squad.”
Under one charge, the warrant said Murray committed the crime of “exploitation of elder” to take control of the money from a Jones County man.
SBI officials said Murray, arrested at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, was charged with:
- felony conspiracy
- felony obtaining property by false pretenses
- felony exploitation of a disabled or elderly person in a position of trust
- impersonating a law enforcement officer
The news release said anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimized by the suspect should contact the Jones County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 448-0035 or the SBI’s coastal district office.
Murry is being held in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. He has a first court appearance scheduled for Monday in Mecklenburg County District Court.
Full Article & Source:
North Carolina man accused of pretending to be FBI agent in $16k elder exploitation scam
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