Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who Lee County detectives say illegally withdrew $12,000 in cash from someone’s bank account, then tried to pull the scam a third time before being turned away by a savvy bank teller.

The victim was in Miami attending the National Championship game between the University of Florida and Oklahoma on Thursday, Jan. 8. At some point during the event, the victim lost his identification and reported it to authorities. But before any red flags could be put in place the next business day, an unknown man made two cash account withdrawals in Fort Myers, to the tune of $6,000 each. The same man then went to another bank branch in Naples, and tried to make a third cash withdrawal on the victim’s account, however a bank teller wouldn’t allow the transaction to go through.
According to detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s Economic Crimes Unit, the suspect presented a Florida drivers license bearing the victim’s driver’s license number. It should be noted, however, that the victim is an older white male, and the suspect, whose images were captured on bank surveillance video, is a short black male.
Detectives are trying to identify the person seen on surveillance video during the three transactions in order to inquire about any possible involvement in the identity theft case.
Anyone with information on the identity or location of the man in the attached photo is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org
For additional information, contact Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator, at 239-477-
1407.