Eric Tushim Photo Credit: The Virgin Islands Police Department
ST. CROIX -- A man was arrested on Friday and was levied with multiple criminal charges after he took $25,000 of an elderly man to purchase a vehicle, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima has announced.
On Friday at 9:02 p.m., officers of the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Special Operations Bureau arrested Eric Tushim, 59, on a warrant for aggravated identity theft, obtaining money by false pretenses, fraudulent use of a credit card, embezzlement by bailee, and grand larceny.
According to Mr. Derima, the investigation by detectives of the Economic Crimes Unit revealed that the complainant, who is an elderly male, gave Mr. Tushim a check to purchase a vehicle on his behalf. However, Mr. Tushim purchased the vehicle in his own name without the owner’s permission. Mr. Tushim also used the victim’s Visa card without his knowledge, according to Mr. Derima.
Unable to make bail of $25,000, Mr. Tushim was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending his advisement hearing at the Superior Court on St. Croix.
If you know of an elderly person that is being taken advantage of financially, or if you are an elderly victim of this type of crime, call 911 or the Economic Crimes Unit at (340) 778-2211.
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