A 23-year-old Miami man, Bryan Martinez, found himself in handcuffs following a foot chase in Weston after police say he almost pulled off a high-stakes fraud scheme. This past Wednesday, the Weston Police Department announced Martinez's arrest, alleging that he impersonated a bank agent and tried to dupe a local older resident out of a substantial sum of money.
According to the Weston Police Department's social media post, Martinez approached the victim claiming to investigate fraudulent activity on their bank accounts. He instructed the victim to withdraw large amounts of money for deposit into anonymous accounts or readying them for collection. An earlier pickup in the week had been successful, and on September 30, a second pickup was arranged, whereupon encountering police officers at the resident's home, Martinez fled, chased by the officers.
With the combined efforts of the K-9 and drone units, Martinez was apprehended on North Avenue. After a foot pursuit, the suspect was found to have a stolen Florida driver's license on him when searched. The incident led to Martinez's arraignment in Waltham District Court, where he was released on a $2,500 bail.
Martinez now faces multiple charges related to the alleged scam, including two counts each of conspiracy to commit larceny by false pretense and attempted larceny, specifically targeting persons over the age of 60, and possession of false or stolen identification. The police inquiry is ongoing, with the department also collaborating with federal agencies to uncover potential additional culprits or victims. People who might have fallen prey to similar scams are being encouraged to reach out to the Weston Police Department at 781-786-6200.
