HPD Arrests Suspect For Defrauding Dozens of Businesses February 26, 2008 - A suspect wanted for stealing identifications of numerous individuals, including those who are deceased, is in custody following an undercover operation that led to his identity and whereabouts. Robert G. Stringer (w/m, DOB: 1-11-44) is charged with fraudulent use/possession of identifying information in the 230th State District Court. Stringer was arrested at his residence at 1108 East 26th Street on February 21 without incident. Investigators are concerned other persons have been victimized by Stringer and ask those persons to report the incidents to the HPD. An undercover operation was initiated on the suspect after investigators received reports from businesses throughout the country that an individual was ordering merchandise to be delivered to a Houston address and paid for with counterfeit checks. On Feb. 21, undercover investigators delivered one of Stringer’s recent purchases, two frozen desserts ordered from a high end retailer in Chicago, to his home on East 26th Street. The desserts cost $130 and were paid in advance with a counterfeit check listing the name of Edward Levy, a deceased person. There was also a fictitious address in Rivertown, Wyoming, on the check. Stringer had also listed the name of the recipient of the desserts to be delivered to the East 26th address as that of a deceased U.S. Army captain killed in action in Iraq on Memorial Day in 2006. Anyone who believes he/she has been victimized by Stringer is urged to contact the HPD Financial Crimes Unit at 713-308-2500. At 2 p.m. TODAY (Tuesday, Feb. 26), an investigator in the Financial Crimes Unit will be available to answer questions in this investigation in the media briefing room on the first floor of HPD Headquarters at 1200 Travis. |