Colombian Sought In Scam
Skip directly to the full story.

By VALERIE KALFRIN The Tampa Tribune

Published: Sep 1, 2007


TAMPA - A fingerprint from a piece of paper helped police identify a Colombian immigrant who they say is targeting Hispanic seniors in a lottery scam.

Tampa police are seeking Jose Loaiza-Cruz, 38, on felony warrants charging him with scheme to defraud, grand theft and robbery by sudden snatching.

Loaiza-Cruz, who has been deported twice, also is being sought for immigration violations by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, police said.

Detectives say Loaiza-Cruz bilked two Tampa seniors, a 79-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman, out of more than $10,000 each after approaching them in supermarket parking lots in West Tampa in March.

He persuaded each person to give him money in exchange for what he claimed was a winning lottery ticket that he couldn't cash because of his immigration status, police said.

This is a common swindle throughout Tampa's Hispanic community, economic crimes Sgt. Paul Mumford said. "In some cases, their entire life savings were wiped out," he said.

He asked anyone with information on Loaiza-Cruz's whereabouts, or anyone who has been robbed in the scam, to call police at (813) 231-6130.

Police discovered Loaiza-Cruz's identity thanks to a piece of paper he left behind in an envelope during an exchange with one of the victims, Mumford said. A crime scene technician found a fingerprint on the paper and matched it to Loaiza-Cruz, who has been arrested in Miami, Orlando and parts of south Florida, he said.

In addition, one of the victims identified Loaiza-Cruz through a photo array, Mumford said.

The 65-year-old woman realized at the last minute that Loaiza-Cruz was conning her and refused to hand over her money, so he snatched her bag, Mumford said.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBXY2FJ16F.html