Connecticut authorities arrested a Florida man on charges related to bank fraud and identity theft throughout multiple counties in Florida. According to an investigation by the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gerardo Taboada, 57, orchestrated fraudulent withdrawals from numerous PNC Banks in Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. The defendant allegedly stole more than $43,000 from PNC Bank accounts statewide.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Identity theft and bank fraud are serious crimes that wreak havoc on people’s lives and finances. We will continue to work with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute any individual or organization impersonating Floridians to drain their bank accounts.”
Between January and April of 2018, Taboada entered multiple PNC Bank locations and used fake drivers’ licenses to pose as different account holders. According to the investigation, Taboada made between two and six withdrawals from each breached account prior to moving to a different account. Each withdrawal took place at a different PNC Bank. During the crime spree, Taboada made 18 fraudulent withdrawals for amounts ranging from $1000 to $3000 each.
In April, PNC Bank alerted the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office that Taboada stole from different victims and account holders. IRCSO passed the information to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and surveillance video from previous accounts gave authorities the visual aid to identify the defendant. Law enforcement officers arrested Taboada Thursday in Connecticut.
Taboada faces charges of organized scheme to defraud and five counts of criminal use of personal identification information. The FDLE and the Florida Attorney General’s OSP investigated the case with the assistance of IRCSO and PNC Bank fraud investigators. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Alan Saladrigas will handle this case.
