Warsaw, IN — A Warsaw man who was arrested in October on theft and drug charges has been arrested again on a new theft charge, authorities said.
Ted William Connors, 60, of 109 N. Washington St., Apt. D, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail early Tuesday morning on Nov. 4 for theft, a Level 6 felony, and is being held on a $7,500 bond.
According to court documents, the case began on Oct. 14, when a Warsaw Police Department detective received a report from the Rapid City, South Dakota Police Department about an alleged online grant scam.
A South Dakota woman told investigators she was contacted by a man on Facebook who claimed to offer $200,000 grants. The scammer, posing as “Agent Daron White,” told her a FedEx package containing the money was on its way, but later claimed the truck was in an accident. The woman was then asked to send money orders to release the package.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim sent two $1,000 postal money orders addressed to Connors, along with additional payments totaling $19,000 sent to another person in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
When questioned by detectives on Oct. 21, Connors admitted receiving the $2,000 but claimed he no longer had the money. He said he had been contacted about the scheme through Facebook but had since blocked and deleted the individuals involved.
Investigators noted Connors had multiple prior reports of similar scams involving the Warsaw Police Department. Connors allegedly told police he had stopped and that there “wouldn’t be any other issues.”
However, just days later, Connors was arrested again on Oct. 24, accused of convincing someone in Davenport, Iowa, to send him $1,500 in exchange for a fake $100,000 grant. During that arrest, officers also found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his apartment, police said.
Connors now faces a growing list of charges, including attempted theft, possession of paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and the new Level 6 felony theft charge.
The Warsaw Police Department urged residents to remain cautious when approached online with offers of grants or financial rewards, warning that scammers frequently use social media to target victims across state lines.
