MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Police are searching for a suspect accused of fraudulently using a Cumberland County resident's identity to make more than $8,000 in cash withdrawals.
The victim, who lives in Lower Allen Township, contacted authorities on Oct. 2 after being alerted that a $6,800 cash withdrawal had been taken from her account in Bethlehem, Lehigh County on Sept. 30.
The victim later learned an additional withdrawal of $2,000 had been made that same day, according to Lower Allen Township Police.
The Members 1st Federal Credit Union Fraud Team submitted surveillance photos of the person who made with withdrawals from one of its branches in Bethlehem. The subject who made both withdrawals was a man with a goatee.
Both transactions were handled by the same teller, who did request photo ID, police said. The man provided the account number and a U.S. passport card with the victim's information, and the photo on the card was of the man presenting the ID, according to police.
Investigators eventually identified Dax Perez Velazquez, 49, as a suspect in the case. He is charged with one count of identity theft and one count of theft by deception.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Lower Allen Township Police at (717) 238-9676 or submit a tip online.
