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A New Jersey woman has been arrested for stealing the identity of the 87-year-old Hampton Bays woman she was caring for and charging more than $3,000 worth of expenses to a credit card account that she had illegally opened in the elderly victim’s name.
Southampton Town Police arrested Gennie Gehrkin, 54, at police headquarters in Hampton Bays last Wednesday, June 24, and charged her with two counts of first-degree identity theft and third-degree grand larceny, both felonies, and third-degree unlawful possession of identification information and endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, both misdemeanors.
Police said Ms. Gehrkin was convicted of a similar offense in 2005 in New Jersey and is still on probation for that crime. She has also spent some time in jail before, though Town Police said they do not know where or for how long.
The recent theft was reported by the victim’s son in February when he discovered that someone had opened a credit card account under his mother’s name. Police said the victim’s son fired Ms. Gehrkin after discovering that she had stolen his mother’s personal information.
Town Police learned during their investigation that Ms. Gehrkin, who was working as a home health aide for the elderly woman, had opened the credit card account and added herself as an authorized user. She used the account to travel to a suburb of Chicago, where police said she was thinking about moving.
Ms. Gehrkin was hired, though police could not say when, after she responded to a Craig’s List posting. The elderly woman, who was not identified because she is the victim of a crime, requires 24-hour care for a medical condition.
According to probation officers in New Jersey, Ms. Gehrkin has used many aliases in the past and has previous convictions for larceny and fraud in both Texas and Arizona. Her aliases include Jenne Chelless-Jones, Gennie Gay, Carmon Gehrkin, Gennie Goldberg, Jennie Jones and Gennie Rodriguez.
Ms. Gehrkin was held overnight at police headquarters and arraigned last Thursday, June 25, in Southampton Town Justice Court.
Town Police think that there might be additional victims living in the tri-state area. Police are requesting that anyone with additional information contact Southampton Town Police detectives at 631-702-2230.
Two Charged with Possession
Two 18-year-old men from Hampton Bays were arrested last weekend and charged with cocaine possession following a routine traffic stop on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue, according to Southampton Town Police.
Police said William R. Altman, who was driving the car, and his passenger, Douglas A. Oakland, were pulled over at 12:16 a.m. after Mr. Altman committed multiple traffic violations. The arresting officers reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the car and, upon further investigation, they discovered a small quantity of cocaine on both men.
Mr. Altman was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
Mr. Oakland was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, according to police.
Mr. Altman was transported to Southampton Town Police headquarters in Hampton Bays for processing and held for arraignment. Mr. Oakland was released after being issued an appearance ticket.
Police Recover Stolen Motorcycle
A Brooklyn man was arrested in The Bronx on June 16, several hours after Southampton Town Police said he stole a motorcycle belonging to a Hampton Bays man while taking the vehicle on a test drive.
Officers with the New York Police Department found the motorcycle, a 2006 Kawasaki that was equipped with an anti-theft monitoring system, and arrested 37-year-old Andrew Winter.
The complainant, who lives on Holzman Drive, told Town Police that he made arrangements at 1 p.m. on June 16 for Mr. Winter to test drive the motorcycle, which the victim was attempting to sell. The victim told Town Police that Mr. Winter, who identified himself only as Andre, followed him on the motorcycle through Hampton Bays and, later, on the westbound lanes of Sunrise Highway. After signaling that he was going to leave Sunrise Highway at Exit 64, Mr. Winter instead continued traveling west on Sunrise Highway, according to police.
Mr. Winter was charged with third-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, both felonies, and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors.
Mr. Winter was scheduled to be arraigned in Bronx Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 1. No additional information was available.
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