HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN CO. (WOLF) — A Brooklyn man is accused of running a months-long identity theft scheme that allowed him to place more than 200 fraudulent liquor orders across Pennsylvania, state officials announced Tuesday.
According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and state police, 26-year-old Eugene Antwi was taken into custody in New York on charges including identity theft, access device fraud, forgery, theft by deception, and other related felonies. He is expected to be brought to Pennsylvania for arraignment.
Investigators say Antwi used fake identities along with stolen credit and debit card information to make online purchases totaling more than $65,000. The orders were allegedly picked up at state liquor stores in 21 counties between August 2023 and September 2024.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said the scheme targeted both residents and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. “This defendant went to great lengths to steal from unsuspecting Pennsylvanians and defraud the Liquor Control Board,” Sunday said, adding that organized retail theft ultimately drives up prices for consumers.
The case, developed with help from the 52nd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, led Pennsylvania authorities to file charges, after which New York City police arrested Antwi on the outstanding warrant.
The prosecution is being handled by Senior Deputy Attorney General Philip McCarthy and Deputy Attorney General Kelsey Ashworth. Officials emphasized that Antwi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.