COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) – Two individuals were arrested in connection with a PayPal scam that defrauded a Ross County resident of approximately $59,000, according to the Ross County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim reportedly lost $44,000 through an electronic transfer and an additional $15,000 in cash when the suspects visited his home.
The suspects, identified as 33-year-old Rodrigo Garcia-Lavera and 28-year-old Neiker Jose Rodriguez Teran, were apprehended by the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force in collaboration with the Ross County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday evening.
Authorities recovered over $15,000 in cash, which has been placed into evidence.
Sheriff George W. Lavender Jr. stated that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been contacted to assist in the ongoing investigation. Preliminary reports indicate that neither suspect was legally present in the United States.
The case remains under investigation as authorities work to determine whether additional crimes are connected to the suspects.
