Man Helped Steal $86,000 In Elder Scam: Nassau Police

WESTBURY, NY — A Hicksville man was arrested Wednesday for his role in an elder scam that stole tens of thousands of dollars from a Westbury woman, Nassau County police said.

According to police, an 87-year-old woman received a letter in the mail on July 9 claiming she had won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. The woman called a phone number on the letter and was told to withdraw cash from her bank on multiple dates. The money totaled $86,000.

The woman was told the money was to pay for taxes and fees related to her winnings. She was told that someone would come to her house to pick up the cash, and she complied. When she never got any winnings, the woman realized she was the victim of a scam and contacted police.

On Wednesday, the woman was contacted again and told to withdraw another $5,000. She then called the police, and detectives came to her home to wait for someone to pick up the cash.

At 6 p.m., police say Romano George, 28, of Hicksville Road, Hicksville, arrived at the home and was placed under arrest. Police say that George was one of the people who picked up money from the woman's home on two prior occasions.

George is charged with third-degree grand larceny. He is scheduled to be arraigned later today in First District Court in Hempstead.