Crime & Public Safety
Delray Beach courier-scam interception leads to arrest of West Palm Beach man on I-95
Delray Beach police say an alleged fraud scheme that targeted a local woman culminated in the arrest of a West Palm Beach man after officers intercepted a vehicle on northbound Interstate 95.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the woman received calls from someone claiming to be an FDIC investigator who told her her bank accounts had been compromised. She was allegedly instructed to withdraw $9,895 and meet a “bank courier” in Delray Beach. The woman became suspicious and contacted an acquaintance, who then alerted Delray Beach police.
Officers positioned themselves at a shopping center along South Federal Highway while the woman remained on the phone with the caller. Investigators say an Uber driver later arrived near a Carrabba’s restaurant after being hired to pick up a package and take it to a nearby CVS; the caller reportedly hung up as officers approached the driver. Police say they observed a gray Kia SUV leaving the parking lot and later stopped it on northbound I-95.
Police identified the driver as Ronald Garcia, of West Palm Beach, with two other people inside. The affidavit states officers found a 9mm handgun in Garcia’s waistband. Investigators allege that when they called the phone number that had contacted the woman, a phone found in Garcia’s possession rang, and a database search linked that number to him.
Garcia was arrested and charged with organized scheme to defraud under $20,000 and possession of a firearm during a felony, according to the charge records referenced in the affidavit. Delray Beach police are the documenting agency in the affidavit; no court outcome or additional investigative steps were provided in the records cited.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.