Brewster immigrant used aliases to dodge rape warrant, police say

By Terence Corcoran

November 3, 2010

Comments (27)

BREWSTER — An undocumented immigrant who used aliases to avoid arrest on a 10-year-old warrant for a rape on Long Island faces forgery and impersonation charges, state police said today.

Investigators from the Brewster barracks arrested 34-year-old Fredi Espana of Brewster on Tuesday, charging him with second-degree forgery, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, felonies, and second-degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor.

Police said the investigation began recently after they received information of a sexual-abuse allegation from Long Island.

During the probe, which focused on Espana, police learned of a 10-year-old warrant for his arrest on a first-degree rape charge from Suffolk County. That charge is separate from the recent sexual-abuse allegation.

Police determined that Espana, who is in the country illegally, used numerous aliases over the years to avoid arrest on the rape warrant. Police said their investigation showed that he used the aliases during two arrests for driving while intoxicated in Nassau and Westchester counties.

Espana appeared Tuesday before Southeast Town Justice Richard Vercollone, who sent him to the county jail without bail.

Although Espana has not yet been arrested on the Suffolk County charge, the 10-year-old warrant has been lodged with the court and he will eventually be charged with the crime, police said.

Police ask anyone with more information on the case to call them at 845-279-8656. State police on Long Island and the Riverhead Police Department assisted in the investigation.

www.lohud.com