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January-3rd-2005, 05:23 PM
Man Accused of Scamming NFL Players With False Identity
By Ben Nuckols
Associated Press
Monday, January 3, 2005; 5:18 PM
BALTIMORE -- A 19-year-old man obtained the phone numbers of current and former NFL greats and, claiming to be a fellow player, told "elaborate" tales of financial distress and talked them into wiring him money, police said.
Lewis Sills of Elkridge faces multiple charges of theft and identity theft after stealing or trying to steal from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green and Oakland Raiders defensive end Warren Sapp, Howard County police said.
After persuading Green and McNabb to wire him money, Sills called Sapp, who became suspicious, police said. Sapp's financial manager contacted police, who arrested Sills after he picked up money he believed was from Sapp.
"We have not been able to determine how he was able to obtain the personal phone numbers of these players," police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said. "His stories have been described as elaborate, desperate and certainly convincing enough that some of the players wired the money at his request."
According to police, Sills called Green on Dec. 17 and claimed to be Baltimore Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware. Acting as Boulware, he claimed to have a cousin named Lewis Sills and asked Green to wire $900 directly to Sills. Green believed the story and wired the cash, which Sills picked up at a grocery store in his hometown.
Sills' next alleged target was McNabb. This time, he allegedly claimed to be James Thrash of the Washington Redskins -- a former teammate of McNabb's. He asked McNabb to wire $600 to the same grocery store. McNabb agreed and, posing as Thrash, he picked up the money and signed Thrash's name on a transaction receipt.
Then, on Dec. 28, police said Sills called Sapp and claimed to be Redskins receiver Laveranues Coles. He asked Sapp to wire him $1,800.
Sapp became suspicious, police said, and his financial manager, James Rubin, contacted police and wired $525 to Coles at the grocery store.
Detectives were waiting outside when Sills walked in, identified himself as Coles and took the money. They confronted him and arrested him after a chase and struggle.
In addition to the theft and identity theft counts, Sills was charged with resisting arrest and assaulting officers.
He's being held in lieu of $5,000 bond. Police are unsure if any other players were targeted, Llewellyn said.
"We've been working with NFL security since the beginning of the investigation, so if there were additional players victimized, we would want to know about that," she said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45278-2005Jan3.html
By Ben Nuckols
Associated Press
Monday, January 3, 2005; 5:18 PM
BALTIMORE -- A 19-year-old man obtained the phone numbers of current and former NFL greats and, claiming to be a fellow player, told "elaborate" tales of financial distress and talked them into wiring him money, police said.
Lewis Sills of Elkridge faces multiple charges of theft and identity theft after stealing or trying to steal from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green and Oakland Raiders defensive end Warren Sapp, Howard County police said.
After persuading Green and McNabb to wire him money, Sills called Sapp, who became suspicious, police said. Sapp's financial manager contacted police, who arrested Sills after he picked up money he believed was from Sapp.
"We have not been able to determine how he was able to obtain the personal phone numbers of these players," police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said. "His stories have been described as elaborate, desperate and certainly convincing enough that some of the players wired the money at his request."
According to police, Sills called Green on Dec. 17 and claimed to be Baltimore Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware. Acting as Boulware, he claimed to have a cousin named Lewis Sills and asked Green to wire $900 directly to Sills. Green believed the story and wired the cash, which Sills picked up at a grocery store in his hometown.
Sills' next alleged target was McNabb. This time, he allegedly claimed to be James Thrash of the Washington Redskins -- a former teammate of McNabb's. He asked McNabb to wire $600 to the same grocery store. McNabb agreed and, posing as Thrash, he picked up the money and signed Thrash's name on a transaction receipt.
Then, on Dec. 28, police said Sills called Sapp and claimed to be Redskins receiver Laveranues Coles. He asked Sapp to wire him $1,800.
Sapp became suspicious, police said, and his financial manager, James Rubin, contacted police and wired $525 to Coles at the grocery store.
Detectives were waiting outside when Sills walked in, identified himself as Coles and took the money. They confronted him and arrested him after a chase and struggle.
In addition to the theft and identity theft counts, Sills was charged with resisting arrest and assaulting officers.
He's being held in lieu of $5,000 bond. Police are unsure if any other players were targeted, Llewellyn said.
"We've been working with NFL security since the beginning of the investigation, so if there were additional players victimized, we would want to know about that," she said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45278-2005Jan3.html