Identity fraud attempts reported at local banks

CELINA - A 54-year-old New York man was arrested by Fort Recovery police Wednesday for reportedly attempting identity fraud at four different Mercer County banks.

A news release from Celina Police Chief Tom Wale states a criminal complaint was filed against Robert Candidus for one count of identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony.

However, the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility website states Candidus is being held on a second-degree felony charge of identity theft.

No further information on the degree of charge he's being held on was available by press time.

If convicted on the fifth-degree felony, he would face up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $2,500.

No attorney was immediately listed for him. Additional or amended charges are possible pending a formal indictment.

The Celina Police Department opened an investigation into an attempted fraud at Peoples Bank located on West Logan Street in Celina on Wednesday afternoon after learning that a female suspect, wearing a disguise, attempted to obtain access to a local resident's bank account by using a stolen identity, Wale's release states.

A bank employee recognized the suspicious activity and intervened before any funds were stolen. While Celina Police were investigating this incident, three additional similar attempts were reported at financial institutions elsewhere in Mercer County. Information gathered during those reports indicated that a male and female suspect were involved, along with the possibility of additional accomplices, per the release.

At about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Fort Recovery Police Department received a report of similar suspicious activity at Park National Bank. Officers were able to obtain a description of a male suspect and subsequently located a subject matching that description on foot in the area. Officers stopped and detained the individual, who was later identified as Candidus. Investigators determined that Candidus had attempted to use the identity of a Celina resident.

He was taken into custody by the Fort Recovery Police Department and transported to the county jail, where he's being held without bond.

"These incidents remain under investigation by the Celina Police Department. Anyone with information related to this case, or who may have experienced similar fraudulent activity, is encouraged to contact Detective A.J. Poppe at the Celina Police Department at 419-586-2345," the release states.

Wale thanked the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, Coldwater Police Department, Fort Recovery Police Department, St. Henry Police Department, Grand Lake Task Force and Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Minor for their assistance with the investigation.