Duo Was Part of Identity Theft Ring Targeting People in Mt. Sinai Area: Police

Two Brooklyn men were part of an identity theft ring that targeted victims in the Mt. Sinai area, Suffolk Police said.

Kirby Cineas, 31, and Kareem Shepherd, 28, were arrested Monday afternoon after an investigation by Suffolk County Police Identity Theft Section detectives and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

According to police, inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service received information regarding an identity theft ring operating throughout the East Coast, targeting victims in the Mt. Sinai area. Postal inspectors were able to identify potential targets and contacted the Suffolk County Police Identity Theft Unit.

Officials conducted joint surveillance in four locations. Cineas and Shepherd were arrested when the pair removed mail containing a debit card and pin number from a mailbox on Jolin Drive in Mt. Sinai around 1:15 p.m. Monday, police said.

Cineas and Shepherd were charged with fourth degree grand larceny and petty larceny. Shepherd was also charged with five counts of second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument for possessing multiple forged credit and debit cards, police said.

Cineas and Shepherd were held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Central Islip.

SCPD photos: Kirby Cineas (left) and Kareem Shepherd