Mission Police Nab Alleged Scammer: Multiple Victims Swindled Out of Thousands
In a significant breakthrough, the Mission Police Department has arrested a man accused of scamming several individuals out of large sums of money. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Jesus Lopez, was apprehended on Saturday with multiple warrants for theft.
A String of Deceptions
According to authorities, Lopez executed a series of scams that preyed on unsuspecting victims. In one case, he allegedly posed as an employee of a local law firm, convincing two individuals to part with more than $13,000. Art Flores, the Public Information Officer for Mission PD, detailed one of the cons: “A mother had her son in jail. At that point in time, he requested money from her in order for the case to proceed to get him out.”
In another deceitful act, Lopez is accused of pretending to be a car salesman, defrauding a third victim of an estimated $1,500. The crimes reportedly took place in Mission, but authorities suspect that there may be more victims across the Rio Grande Valley.
Mission PD’s investigation has uncovered a pattern of deceit, leading them to believe that Lopez’s scams might have ensnared more individuals. “We are asking our community if they were victimized by this individual or if they have some kind of similar situation to go to your local agencies and do a police report so we can add more charges if we need to,” said Flores.
Law enforcement officials are urging residents to exercise caution to avoid falling prey to scammers. They advise conducting transactions in official settings rather than in informal locations like parking lots, which can be red flags for fraudulent activities.
Lopez was arraigned on Saturday and received a total bond of $155,000. However, authorities indicate that this number could rise as more charges are potentially added. If you believe you’ve been a victim of Jesus Lopez’s scams, you are encouraged to contact the Mission Police Department at 956-584-5000 or your local law enforcement agency.
