Detectives Arrest Mansfield Man for Racketeering, Larceny 1st Degree Following Lengthy Check Fraud Investigation
- csppio
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
In March 2023, the Connecticut State Police Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force, in conjunction with the New Haven Police Department Financial Crimes Unit, initiated an investigation as a result of complaints from numerous banks concerning a possible check fraud ring within Connecticut causing losses to their institutions.
Detectives identified a group of individuals conspiring together in a check kiting scheme, which is a type of check fraud that involves passing bad checks between
multiple accounts at various banks to withdraw funds made available by that institution before the check is returned for non-sufficient funds. The group was using a similar scheme to defraud online gambling platforms.
Detectives identified Eric J. Christian (DOB: 08/14/1983), of Mansfield, as a suspect and determined that he was recruiting individuals to open accounts at multiple banks in order to facilitate this scheme. Records show this activity has been occurring since at least 2020.
The evidence provided in the arrest warrant establishes aggregate losses in excess of $350,000, but the actual losses are believed to be higher.
On 05/14/2025, SOCITF arrested Christian by warrant at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institute in Suffield on the following charges:
CGS 53-395; Corrupt Organizations & Racketeering Act (CORA)
CGS 53a-48/ 53a-122; Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 1st Degree
CGS 53a-127b; Fraudulent Use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
CGS 53a-127g; Illegal Possession of Personal Identification Information Device
CGS 53a-128(c)(3); Issuing a Bad Check $500-$1000
CGS 53a-48/ 53a-129d; Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3rd Degree
CGS 53a-140; Forgery 3rd Degree
Six of Christian's co-conspirators have been arrested by CSP SOCITF and New Haven PD during the course of this investigation, with further arrests anticipated. Christian is being held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond and will appear in New Haven Superior Court GA 23 on 05/22/2025. Please see the attached arrest warrant, and anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Michael Grabowski or Sergeant Anthony Gordon at 203 630-8010. All calls will remain confidential.
