Mugshot of Michael Adair Ellenburg. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — The VIPD's Economic Crimes Unit has charged a 74-year-old man for allegedly impersonating a realtor to defraud a property-buyer of thousands.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the VIPD says its investigation into Michael Adair Ellenburg revealed that the septuagenarian hacker somehow obtained conversations in which the victim discussed closing costs after hacking into an unknown source. Ellenburg then allegedly emailed the victim under the guise of being the realtor, requesting a payment of just over $23,000 be wired to his bank account.
Based on the results of their investigation in August 2022, local detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Ellenburg and entered it into the National Crime Information Center database.
In October of that year, an officer on patrol encountered Ellenburg, discovered the outstanding warrant, and detained him. Ellenburg subsequently waived the extradition process.
Last Friday, Economic Crimes Unit detectives went to the John Bell Correctional Facility where Ellenburg is being held, and charged him with obtaining money under false pretenses, grand larceny, and acting in assumed character.
Unable to post $25,000 bail, Ellenburg remains in custody as he awaits his court hearing scheduled for Monday.
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