Police in Bethlehem, Albany County announced the arrest of a 55-year-old White Plains man Tuesday for allegedly defrauding elderly victims of their money using a fake sweepstakes scam.
Police arrested Hopeton G. Labeach, 55, of White Plains, on the felony charges of third-degree grand larceny, fourth degree money laundering and first-degree scheme to defraud. Police filed the grand larceny charge under the state's hate crime statute because they allege that Labeach intentionally targeted the elderly.
Police said they began their investigation after an 89-year-old Selkirk woman was contacted on the phone by Labeach. Labeach allegedly told the woman she won a sweepstakes and should send money to an address in White Plains.
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Labeach kept some of the money for personal use and sent the rest out of the money out of the country, according to police.
Police believe Labeach has been using the same sweepstakes scam on seniors for about than two years. Labeach was also charged as a fugitive from justice because he has an arrest warrant out of Carrollton, Ga. for a similar incident.
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Labeach was sent to Albany County Jail without bail and had an arraignment scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Bethlehem police ask anyone who may have sent Labeach money to call detectives at (518) 439-9973.
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