LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A 53-year-old man was arrested Sunday in connection with a Lake County investigation into fraudulent credit union accounts, stolen identities and money laundering.
Eric Hicks faces seven charges, including a scheme to defraud, two counts of criminal use of personal identification information, two counts of money laundering and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Investigation began with fraudulent accounts
According to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office affidavit, investigators began examining fraudulent loan applications in March after receiving reports from several credit unions.
The investigation led deputies to Andrea Costa, who investigators said used other people’s identities and fraudulent driver’s licenses to open accounts and seek loans.
An employee at an Addition Financial branch in Clermont recognized Costa from an internal fraud alert when she returned March 21, according to the affidavit. Deputies responded and arrested her.
Investigators said they recovered identification documents and bank cards bearing multiple names.
Financial records linked Hicks to transfers
Detectives examined Costa’s messages, electronic devices and financial records to identify others involved, according to the affidavit.
Investigators said WhatsApp conversations included someone using the name “Crypto Killer.” A phone number supplied during those conversations was linked to Hicks through a law enforcement database, the affidavit states.
Financial records also showed a $6,667 peer-to-peer payment to Eric Hicks after money moved from Costa’s bank account through Apple Cash and a Stride Bank account, investigators said.
Separate Cash App records showed an attempted payment to Hicks that failed because it exceeded a weekly transfer limit, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit supporting Hicks’ arrest was signed June 15. The arrest listing records his arrest Oct. 18.
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