On January 27, 2017, in the evening, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Apple Store in Deer Park (20530 North Rand Road, Deer Park), on two separate occasions regarding individuals attempting to fraudulently gain access to customer accounts.
Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and identified Alexander J. Soto, 25, of Yonkers, NY, and Diamand D. Reid, 22, of Roseville, MI as being involved.
Through further investigation, sheriff’s detectives determined Soto and Reid attempted to gain unauthorized access to AT&T accounts while at the Apple Store. The two then attempted to purchase over $3000.00 worth of Apple merchandise to be billed to these unauthorized AT&T accounts.
Sheriff’s detectives are contacting other local and regional Apple stores to see if the two attempted the same crimes at other Apple facilities. Sheriff’s detectives also continue to investigate if there is a connection between Soto and Reid, and those arrested several months ago who were involved in a criminal enterprise, utilizing Apple stores to commit their crimes.
Soto was subsequently charged with burglary (class 2 felony), identity theft (class 2 felony), and retail theft (class 3 felony). He is currently being held at the Lake County Jail on $70,000.00 bail and is due in court on February 2, 2017 at 1:30PM in courtroom C-120.
Reid was subsequently charged with burglary (class 2 felony) and identity theft (class 3 felony). She is currently being held at the Lake County Jail on $60,000.00 bail and is due in court on February 2, 2017 at 1:30PM in courtroom C-120.
In July of 2016 sheriff’s detectives arrested the following in connection with the Apple store criminal enterprise:
Nicole E. Cannon, 21, of New York, New York
Gisselle Diaz, 41, of Elmhurst, New York
Corbett Ortiz, 26, of New York, New York
Quintin Ortiz, 18, of Bronx, New York
Melinda Aquino, 21, of Bronx, New York
Frank Aulet, 20, of Bronx, New York
Simone L. Signorelli, 22, of Palisades, New York
All of those arrested have been involved in committing high-value thefts through deceptive means at Apple stores. Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives continue to work with authorities locally and regionally to ensure those responsible are identified and arrested.
Sheriff Curran reminds the public the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.