Thousands of dollars were reportedly taken by a Maspeth man who was arrested last week on charges that he allegedly stole another mans personal information and used it to open a fraudulent credit card account.
Law enforcement sources stated that Harold Kuemmel, 49, of 53rd Drive faces charges of first-degree identity theft, grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument after having reportedly swiped nearly $10,000 from a major credit card company within a span of seven months after allegedly opening a fraudulent account purportedly for the use of a trucking business.
According to investigators, the incidents began in November 2004, when Kuemmel allegedly applied for the card using the unidentified victims name and Social Security number.
After receiving a credit account, it is alleged, the suspect reportedly obtained a check from the financing company for $5,500 that was issued to him on Nov. 14, 2004.
In a second incident, which took place seven months later, Kuemmel reportedly negotiated a second check issued on May 27, 2005 by the credit card lender in the amount of $4,000.
Law enforcement officials stated that the allegedly fraudulent account and activity were reported to the bank after it was determined that the victims personal information was used fraudulently to create the account.
It was noted that Kuemmel was taken into custody on Oct. 24 by members of the 104th Precinct Detective Squad.
A spokesperson for Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown stated that the defendant was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Oct. 25 before Judge William Harrington. Kuemmel was reportedly released on $5,000 bail and is due back in court on Nov. 27.