SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (WOLO) – Six individuals have been arrested in connection with a large-scale identity theft scheme targeting Lowe’s stores throughout Suffolk County. District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the arrests of Ananda Gabriel, Aameer Waight, Abilio Sanchez, Anthony Colon, Rashad Provost, and Jonathan Lynce, who are accused of grand larceny, identity theft, and other related crimes.
The defendants allegedly opened multiple Lowe’s credit card accounts in the names of victims from across the U.S. without their consent. They used these fraudulent accounts to purchase more than $25,000 worth of gift cards at Lowe’s store locations throughout Suffolk County, including Commack, Bay Shore, Farmingdale, Medford, and Stony Brook.
“These arrests highlight a serious identity theft operation that has harmed victims nationwide,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Retail theft often intertwines with identity theft, leading to substantial financial losses for both merchants and consumers.”
Between October 2023 and February 2024, the suspects used stolen identities to open Lowe’s credit card accounts and used the cards to make fraudulent purchases. In addition to these charges, Gabriel, 23, of Patchogue, is accused of renting an apartment in Patchogue using another person’s identity, and she has not paid rent for the apartment to date.
The six suspects were arrested on August 6, 2024, and charged as follows:
Ananda Gabriel (23, Patchogue): Charged with grand larceny, multiple counts of identity theft, attempted petit larceny, and attempted identity theft.
Aameer Waight (22, Central Islip): Charged with grand larceny and identity theft in the first degree.
Abilio Sanchez (20, Huntington Station): Charged with grand larceny and identity theft in the first degree.
Anthony Colon (25, Bay Shore): Charged with grand larceny, identity theft, attempted petit larceny, and attempted identity theft.
Rashad Provost (23, Mastic Beach): Charged with grand larceny, identity theft, and attempted identity theft.
Jonathan Lynce (22, Central Islip): Charged with grand larceny and multiple counts of identity theft.
All six defendants were arraigned in court and released without bail, as their charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law. They are scheduled for future court appearances.
The investigation, led by Detective Dan Pagano of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit, was assisted by the District Attorney’s Gun Crime Reduction Unit and the Third Precinct Anti-Crime Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lightstone of the Financial Crimes Bureau.
This case highlights the intersection of identity theft and retail fraud, with major financial and personal security implications for victims across the United States.