Police Arrest Couple Collecting Donations Fraudulently on Long Island

LongIsland.com

The Lynbrook Police Department reports the arrest of two Brooklyn residents for Scheme to Defraud on Friday, March 3, 2017.

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Pictured: Britteny Schmidt, 30, and Vincent Fina, 29, both of Brooklyn arrested. Detectives ask anyone who feel they may have fallen victim to these suspects to please call their local precinct.

Photo by: NCPD.

Brooklyn / Lynbrook, NY - March 4, 2017 - The Lynbrook Police Department reports the arrest of two Brooklyn residents for Scheme to Defraud on Friday, March 3, 2017.

According to detectives, on February 21, 2017 Brittney Schmidt, 30, and Vincent Fina, 29, both of Brooklyn and their son, a juvenile were observed entering and exiting several businesses on Merrick Road.  When they were stopped and asked about their suspicious behavior they stated they were collecting donations for a funeral for a child who had passed away.  The detectives identified them and began an investigation which led them to discover the donations were being collected fraudulently.  Detectives were able to locate victims who had donated money to this cause and also determined that the boy they were collecting the money for had not died.  On March 3, 2017 at 6:40 pm detectives located the suspects and placed them under arrest at their residence.

Schmidt and Fina are charged with Scheme to Defraud 1st degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  They will be arraigned on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at First District Court in Hempstead.

Detectives ask anyone who feel they may have fallen victim to these suspects to please call their local precinct.