Two in Cortlandt Charged with Police Impersonation in Prostitution Shakedown Scam

The following information was provided by the Westchester County Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Westchester County Police have charged two people with impersonating police officers and shaking down men for money in a prostitution-related scam.

Under the scam, a Cortlandt woman posted ads on the Internet offering sex in exchange for cash. When two men showed up on separate occasions in Cortlandt to meet her, the woman and a male companion from Peekskill identified themselves as “Westchester County police detectives” and told the men they were under arrest. 

The phony cops then offered not to proceed with the arrests or impound the men’s vehicles in exchange for money. Both victims agreed to pay the pair more than $1,000 each.

Arrested over the past weekend were Shatai Dungie, 32, of Albany Post Road, Cortlandt Manor, and Nyrhande Thompson, 38, of Main Street, Peekskill. They were each charged with first degree criminal impersonation and fourth degree grand larceny felonies.

Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth praised detectives from the Westchester County and Peekskill police departments for their diligent work in identifying the perpetrators of the scam. 

The scammers frequently changed the online ad and the phone number they used to arrange dates, making it difficult to identify them.

"It was sort of a cat and mouse situation," Westchester County Police Information Officer Kieran O'Leary told Patch.

In addition, the ads did not contain a photograph of the woman who was offering sex for money.

“Although we realize it is an embarrassing situation, we are urging anyone else who was victimized in this way to contact the Westchester County Police,” Longworth said. “We believe that there may be more victims of this scam.” 

The investigation began in July of this year when the Peekskill Police Department received an anonymous tip that a woman was arranging to meet men for sex and then robbing them.  When Peekskill detectives determined that the activity was taking place in Cortlandt, they notified the County Police.

Detectives from both agencies developed information about two men who were victims of the scam in recent months.  One of the men told investigators he had agreed to meet the woman at Sprout Brook park in Cortlandt and the other said he met her at the Watergate Motel. In both cases, the female posing as a prostitute and her male companion identified themselves as Westchester County police detectives and asked for cash to make the charges go away. 

One victim paid $1,150 to the pair and the other $1,080.  Both men were accompanied by the scammers to an ATM to obtain the necessary cash.

One victim notified police of the situation when the two suspects called him after a few weeks after they had scammed him and tried to extort him for more money.

"He came forward as a result, realizing this was not going to go away," O'Leary said.

The investigation into Dungie and Thompson is continuing.  Anyone with information can contact the Westchester County Police Tip Line at 1-877-220-3560.  All calls are confidential.  Tips are also accepted electronically at TIPS@WCCOPS.COM.