STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. (WTNH) — Three people were arrested on identity theft charges Monday after state police investigated a Stafford Springs motorcycle business.
State Police say the investigation into Shark Cycle, located at 11 Willington Avenue, began on April 14th with several state and federal agencies, including the US Department of Defense and the US Army Criminal Investigative Command. Police say after a 9 month investigation, it was determined that three employees, including the owner 53-year-old Robert Charland, of Stafford Springs, had been taking Veterans personal identifiers like their names, birth dates and social security numbers, and creating fraudulent DD-214’s. They were then submitting these forms to a motorcycle company called Polaris International, to receive $1,000 credit to their Shark Cycle’s Parts account.
This would also lower the cost for the person purchasing a Polaris motorcycle and in turn spike the sales numbers for the employee. This credit was then used to purchase parts and accessories from Polaris which could be sold at Shark Cycle. Police said Shark Cycle would also receive money from Polaris for higher ATV and motorcycle sales.
Police say it was between February 2014 and September 2015 where 12 separate forms were found to be forged with the stolen identities of the veterans, which amounted to $12,000.
On Monday, Charland, along with his employees, identified as 26-year-old Riza Bazinet, of Willington, and 33-year-old Nicholas Wargo, of Stafford, were all taken into custody and each charged with larceny, identity theft, forgery and money laundering. All three are also to appear in court on January 4th. Charland was released on $100,000 bond, while Bazinet and Wargo were released on $5,000 bond.
State Police say the investigation into Shark Cycle, located at 11 Willington Avenue, began on April 14th with several state and federal agencies, including the US Department of Defense and the US Army Criminal Investigative Command. Police say after a 9 month investigation, it was determined that three employees, including the owner 53-year-old Robert Charland, of Stafford Springs, had been taking Veterans personal identifiers like their names, birth dates and social security numbers, and creating fraudulent DD-214’s. They were then submitting these forms to a motorcycle company called Polaris International, to receive $1,000 credit to their Shark Cycle’s Parts account.
This would also lower the cost for the person purchasing a Polaris motorcycle and in turn spike the sales numbers for the employee. This credit was then used to purchase parts and accessories from Polaris which could be sold at Shark Cycle. Police said Shark Cycle would also receive money from Polaris for higher ATV and motorcycle sales.
Police say it was between February 2014 and September 2015 where 12 separate forms were found to be forged with the stolen identities of the veterans, which amounted to $12,000.
On Monday, Charland, along with his employees, identified as 26-year-old Riza Bazinet, of Willington, and 33-year-old Nicholas Wargo, of Stafford, were all taken into custody and each charged with larceny, identity theft, forgery and money laundering. All three are also to appear in court on January 4th. Charland was released on $100,000 bond, while Bazinet and Wargo were released on $5,000 bond.