News Releases

Suspect Uses Fraudulent Checks to Pay for Transportation Services; Photographs of Suspect Released

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 3, 2020

Detectives from the 4th District - Patrol Investigations Unit are asking for the public's help to identify a suspect who has used fraudulent checks to pay for transportation services to and from the Wheaton area.  The suspect, who has identified himself to the victims as Carlos Arturo Lemus and Juan Carlos Lemus, speaks Spanish and has victimized two Spanish-speaking residents.  Today, the Police Department is releasing photographs of the suspect and is asking for the public's help to identify him.

Both victims reported that they were hired by the suspect to drive him between the area of Boston, Massachusetts, and Wheaton, Maryland.  During one of the rides, the suspect asked to make a stop at Live! Casino in Hanover, Maryland (adjacent to Arundel Mills Mall).  The suspect paid for the service with a check that was for an amount greater than the fee for the trip.  The suspect advised the victims to cash the check and give him the cash minus what he owed them for the transportation service.  The victims were later notified by their banks that the checks were fraudulent.  In total, the suspect obtained approximately $6,400.00 from the two victims.

One of the victims took a photograph of the suspect because he felt that the suspect was acting strange.  The other victim was able to provide police with a social media photograph of the suspect; the suspect's social media account has since been deleted.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or these crimes is asked to call the 4th District - Patrol Investigations Unit at 240-773-5476.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).  Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest in this case.

Investigators are concerned that there may be additional victims of this suspect's fraud.  Anyone who believes that he/she has been a victim is asked to call detectives at 240-773-5476.

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Release ID: 20-136
Media Contact: Rebecca Innocenti 
Categories: credit-credit-theft-andor-fraud, scam, uncategorized