Man Charged In Scam Of Elderly Nassau Man: Police

SOUTH FARMINGDALE, NY — A man was arrested in connection with the scamming of an elderly South Farmingdale man on Friday, Nassau police said.

Cristhian Ortega Rodriguez, 24, of the Bronx, was accused of being involved in defrauding a man, police said.

The 83-year-old man received a telephone call from somebody claiming to be his grandson, police said. The man was asked to call a lawyer named "Larry Hays," representing the man's grandson, who the caller said had been arrested and needed cash for bail, police said. The man later realized it was a scam and contacted the police, the department said.

Detectives arrested Ortega Rodriguez as he tried to pick up the payment, police said. While detectives tried to place Ortega Rodriguez into custody, he resisted and refused to comply with officers' verbal commands, police said.

Ortega Rodriguez was charged with third-degree grand larceny and resisting arrest. He had been scheduled for arraignment on Saturday at First District Court, at 99 Main St., Hempstead.

"Detectives request anyone who feels they may have been the victim of the above defendant to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS," the department stated.