Peruvian National Pleads Guilty to ID Theft in Distraction Theft Scheme

Bridgeport, CT – In a stunning turn of events, Angel Eugenio Bances Chaponan, a 60-year-old Peruvian national, has pleaded guilty to an extensive identity theft scheme that targeted unsuspecting victims at Trader Joe’s and TJ Maxx stores across several states. United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Vanessa Roberts Avery, announced the charges.

The investigation, a joint effort by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, and beyond, has uncovered a sophisticated ring that traveled the country in rented vehicles to steal wallets and subsequently utilize the victims’ credit and debit cards for personal gain. According to court documents, Bances Chaponan was apprehended after he used a stolen credit card to purchase electronics worth nearly $3,900.

Arrested on March 13, 2024, Bances Chaponan has been in custody since his capture and is facing a mandatory two-year sentence. The plea hearing took place before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport, with sentencing scheduled for September 12.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Nathan J. Guevremont are handling the prosecution of this case, which has been a collaborative effort between various law enforcement agencies, including the Manchester (Conn.) Police Department, the Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department, the Spartanburg County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office, and the Spartanburg Police Department.

Bances Chaponan, who was last residing in Queens, New York, has been accused of orchestrating a series of distraction thefts that have left many vulnerable citizens reeling. His conviction serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals will go to exploit the trust placed in their victims for financial gain.

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