Official: Scammer promised nonexistent Port Authority jobs
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By DAN BOWENS, @danbowensfox5
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -
Jeffrey Claudio didn't want to talk with us at his Brooklyn apartment Tuesday night. But investigators say the 23-year-old has had plenty to say in the last year by convincing more than 10 people he could get them jobs with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey if they just paid him.
Assistant Inspector General Steven Pasichow said that Claudio told people he worked for the Port Authority and had family with the agency in a position to hire. But in reality he had no connection to the agency.
A criminal complaint filed by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office details the complicated web of lies. It alleges that Claudio offered to sell Port Authority toll taker jobs for $600 to $700 He told people he needed the cash to buy their uniforms and do background checks.
Port Authority investigators became aware of Claudio's alleged scheme after one of the alleged victims showed up at the Holland Tunnel looking for job training. But there was no training because there was no job.
Detectives said that Claudio raked in nearly $8,000 and used the money to gamble.
Among the alleged victims are an ex-girlfriend he had met at a casino in the Poconos and another woman he had a relationship with. The smooth-talking suspect also duped many of the women's family members after being introduced to them at a barbecue last Fourth of July.
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