PORT ST. LUCIE \u2014 Two Port St. Lucie men were taken into custody Oct. 30 for charges related to impersonating a bank representative and attempting to take $20,000 in cash from a man in California.<\/p>\n
A California man reported on Oct. 29 that he got a call from someone claiming to be a representative of Chase Bank, who told him his account had been compromised. He was told he needed to physically secure his money by transferring it to a Chase Bank in Port St. Lucie, according to a police news release.<\/p>\n
Beware!: Scams on the Treasure Coast<\/a><\/p>\n The man did what he was told and withdrew $20,000 cash, which he then put in a large yellow envelope, and mailed via FedEx next day delivery. After sending the package, the man began to look up the mailing address and found it was not a Chase Bank location. He contacted local law enforcement in California, who referred him to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.<\/p>\n At about 5 a.m. on Oct. 30 the Port St. Lucie Police Department was made award of the scam. Officers were able to get in contact with the local FedEx distribution facility and intercept the package before it was delivered, according to the news release.<\/p>\n Detectives, with the help of FedEx employees, made a plan to catch the person behind the scam call.<\/p>\n Around 9 a.m. the package was marked as delivered to the address on the package and officers and detectives conducted surveillance near the address. After a few minutes, two people in a gray Hyundai SUV parked in the road in front of the delivery address.<\/p>\n The passenger, later identified as Trey Michael Romans, 20, of Port St. Lucie got out of the SUV, but the driver, later identified as Jean Philippe Dorcena, 25, of Port St. Lucie stayed inside the SUV. Officers and detectives took both of them into custody without incident, according to the news release.<\/p>\n Detectives talked to a man living in the home that the package was delivered to. He said he knew Romans and Dorcena, who asked him if a package could be delivered to his home, and he would later be compensated, but was not to open the package. There was no evidence that the man knew what was being delivered to his home, according to the news release.<\/p>\n The SUV was searched and about 16.5 grams of marijuana was found on the passenger seat. Romans’ and Dorcena’s cell phones were seized so search warrants could be served to confirm they were used during the scam.<\/p>\n Martin County: ‘Law and otter’ making an impact at Sheriff’s Office<\/a><\/p>\n Martin County: Burglars at Treasure Coast Square mall entered through hole in roof, Sheriff’s Office says<\/a><\/p>\n Romans was charged with grand theft; scheme to defraud, distribute\/deliver marijuana under 20 grams; and violation of probation for a prior arrest. He is in the St. Lucie County Jail on $51,500 bond, according to the jail website.<\/p>\n Dorcena was charged with grand theft; scheme to defraud; and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. He is in the St. Lucie County Jail on $105,000 bond, according to the jail website.<\/p>\n The money will be returned to the California man via check, according to Port St. Lucie Police.<\/p>\n Olivia Franklin<\/a>\u00a0is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X\u00a0@Livvvvv_5<\/a>\u00a0or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at\u00a0olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com.<\/p>\n