Police: N.Y. woman charged in $19k theft from two Stamford residents
STAMFORD — A New York woman allegedly stole nearly $19,000 total from two Stamford residents using fake identification, according to police.
Terry Markuske, 57, of the Bronx, N.Y, was extradited to Stamford from New Jersey Friday on multiple charges stemming from two cases of identity theft that date back to November 2018.
In November 2018, Markuske allegedly used stolen identification information from two Stamford residents to make a series of cash withdrawals from a chain of banks in Vermont, according to Investigator Michael Stempien.
Stempien said Markuske allegedly made three withdrawals from each individual, in addition to allegedly cashing one check worth $2,986 from each. In total, Markuske allegedly stole more than $12,000 from one person and about $7,000 from the other, Stempien said.
Using stills from surveillance footage, Stempien said investigators were able to identify Markuske as a suspect around the time of the initial incidents. However, Markuske was not arrested by authorities until last week when she was detained by police in New Jersey.
Markuske was charged with two counts of firstdegree identity theft, second-degree larceny, thirddegree larceny, six counts of second-degree forgery and two counts of criminal impersonation.
While being extradited, Stempien said police also found what they described as a fake license, fake credit card and bank statements belonging to a Florida woman in Markuske’s possession.
As a result, Markuske was also charged with second-degree identity theft and two extra counts of second-degree forgery for the Florida data.
She was held on $100,000 bond and given a court date of Sept. 13.