Brooklyn Man Steals Social Security Info to Obtain Fraudulent Loans

Two New Yorkers, including one from Coney Island, Brooklyn, were indicted on Thursday for allegedly stealing 17 social security numbers and using them to apply for loans in the victims' names, which they quickly withdrew and never repaid.

Defendants Dacson Sears, 42, of Coney Island, and Raymond Lyles (aka L.A. Ray), 41, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., were charged with fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree money laundering, first-degree scheme to defraud, third- and second-degree grand larceny, 17 counts of first-degree identity theft, 62 counts of first-degree falsifying business records, and other related charges, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

Between Jan. 1, 2022 through Jan. 1, 2024, the defendants allegedly obtained the names and social security numbers of at least 17 individuals. They formed an identity profile for each individual by creating fraudulent documents in that person's name such as a driver's license, bank account statements, payroll stubs, utility bills, real estate deeds and tax return forms. They also often opened or used email addresses in those persons' names that were under the defendants' control, the DA's office said.

Then the defendants opened new online financial accounts with various creditors and applied for personal loans through the new accounts without the consent or knowledge of the true persons. The creditors approved the loans, and the loan proceeds were thereafter disbursed. The defendants also allegedly applied for and received debit cards that were mailed to addresses under their control. The funds from the loans were either quickly withdrawn using the debit cards or transferred to various other bank accounts the defendants controlled. They never paid back the loans, causing financial loss to the creditors.

The loan amounts ranged from $15,000 to $36,000, with the total sum allegedly stolen from financial institutions adding up to approximately $416,000.

In addition, the indictment alleges that in July 2022, Sears, using the stolen identity of a person whose name he was using to lease his Ocean Drive apartment, stole about $52,000 by applying for COVID relief for rental arrears with the NYS Office of Disability and Temporary Assistance. The fraudulent application was approved, and the funds were disbursed to his landlord, causing a loss to the state.

"These defendants allegedly perpetrated a sophisticated scam that used stolen identities to defraud financial institutions," said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. "The health of our banking system depends on honest dealings."