LAFAYETTE, LA — A 23-year-old man from Houston, Texas, identified as Marlon Edwin De Almeida, was arrested after allegedly attempting to scam a Lafayette Parish resident by posing as a federal government official.
According to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, the arrest stemmed from a coordinated effort with the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland, which alerted Louisiana deputies on Monday at 5 p.m. about a developing scam involving a local resident.
The Scam Attempt
The victim received a fake security alert about a compromised digital payment account, followed by an email from someone impersonating a federal agent. The impersonator claimed to be investigating fraud and instructed the victim to withdraw a large amount of cash and wait for a “courier” to collect the money for “safekeeping.”
Officials said the amount targeted was significant, though not disclosed.
Thanks to surveillance and intelligence operations, deputies were able to monitor the situation. When De Almeida arrived at the victim’s residence to collect the money, he was immediately arrested by patrol deputies.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
De Almeida has been charged with:
Online impersonation
Theft
Authorities confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing, and more information may be released as the case develops.
