Man Stole Thousands From Credit Union: Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — A New York man is accused of using a Maine resident’s identity that he bought through the “dark web” to steal thousands of dollars from a credit union in Hamden, according to police. Crosspoint Federal Credit Union reported the theft to police in May and Brandon Gutierrez was found to have withdrawn $4,600 from an account registered to a Maine resident, according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

Gutierrez told police that he bought the Maine resident’s identity through the “dark web” for $5, according to Smith. Gutierrez also told police that he has stolen approximately $15,000 during the past two months using fake identifications, Smith said.

Gutierrez was arrested May 15 by the Southern Connecticut State University Police Department after attempting to commit another fraud at a Crosspoint Federal Credit Union that is located on campus.

Det. John Marks, a Hamden Police Detective that is assigned to the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force conducted an extensive investigation that led to an arrest warrant for Gutierrez. On Tuesday, Officer Andrew Lipford and other members of the U.S. Marshal Service Violent Fugitive Task Force apprehended Gutierrez in Bridgeport, according to Smith. He was taken to Hamden Police Headquarters.

Gutierrez, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested on charges of third-degree larceny, third-degree forgery and third-degree identity theft. Gutierrez is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Aug. 27.