Homeland Security assists in arresting two New York City men
From the Wyoming County and Genesee County Sheriff,
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office and Genesee County Sheriff’s Office jointly announce the arrests of two additional perpetrators, following a joint investigation spanning nearly a year and a half into identity theft.
On April 8, 2022, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office took the report of fraud from a local resident. The victim reported an unknown individual had called them, falsely indicating that they represented Verizon Wireless. The unknown person was able to unlawfully solicit account and credit card information from the victim, placed a subsequent fraudulent order for four [4] iPhone 13 Pro Max smartphones, and had the iPhones delivered to Mount Vernon, New York. The total loss to the victim was $5,599.96.
Previously released by WCSO was the arrest of Jerome E. Ware, age 59 of New Rochelle, NY, which occurred on September 26, 2022. This was the result of collaborative investigation between the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, NYPD, Homeland Security Investigations, and FedEx Security. Ware was charged with two [2] class D felonies of Identity Theft in the First Degree and Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.
After Ware’s arrest, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, having a similar victim and circumstance in its county, where the identity of its victim was stolen and iPhones were fraudulently ordered using the victim’s account. Following investigation, it was found the suspects in both counties were the same. Wyoming and Genesee County Sheriff’s Offices collaborated for months following Ware’s arrest, investigating into the source of the fraud. Through investigation, two suspects were identified as Joel A. Rojas Perallon, age 20, and Raul DeLeon DeLeon, age 30, both of New York City.
Investigation further revealed that Raul DeLeon DeLeon had recently been arrested in June 2023 in Oak Lawn, Illinois for the armed robbery of a delivery driver. Arrest warrants were subsequently issued out of Wyoming and Genesee Counties for Rojas Perallon and DeLeon DeLeon, for one count each of the following charges in each jurisdiction:
Identity Theft in the First Degree – Class D Felony; Grand Larceny in the Third Degree – Class D Felony; Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree – Class E Felony
On August 10, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents effected the arrest of Joel A. Rojas Perallon at his residence in New York City. Rojas Perallon was transported back to Western New York where he was arraigned on all charges in Wyoming and Genesee Counties. Following arraignments, and in accordance with NYS Bail Reform, Rojas Perallon was released on his own recognizance with a return court date in September.
On August 23, 2023, Raul DeLeon DeLeon turned himself into Wyoming County Sheriff’s Deputies and was subsequently arraigned on all Wyoming and Genesee County charges. Following arraignments, and in accordance with NYS Bail Reform, DeLeon DeLeon was released on his own recognizance with a return court date in September.
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations for their diligent partnerships in identifying and apprehending these suspects who are alleged to have been targeting victims across the nation.
