Police Arrest Three Alleged Identity Thieves

arrested a group of New Yorkers Tuesday who allegedly had more than dozen stolen credit cards, fake driver's licenses and credit reports, Chief Christopher Brock said.

Officer Brian Linden arrested Brooklyn resident Omar Hemmings, 27, at a store at the Fashion Center after Hemmings used the name on a fake driver's license to use a store credit card, Brock said. Hemmings purchased $2,246.94 with the card, Brock said.

While at the store, Hemmings received several calls on his cell phone, but police wouldn't let him answer. He eventually received a text message that said the word "dip," which Linden recognized as slang for "make a quick exit," Brock said.

Linden radioed other officers in the area to look out for a possible accomplice. Outside, Officer Mark Pinajian saw a black Ford Expedition with Virginia plates backing out of a parking space.

Pinajian thought it was suspicious that the car was parked so far away from the mall when there were so many empty spaces, Brock said, and the driver looked to be in a hurry. 

Pinajian stopped the car and found that its two occupants, Macneil Turenne, 29, of Brooklyn, and Gregory Cantey, 45, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., had 14 stolen credit cards, 13 fake driver's licenses from from Kentucky, New Jersey and Virginia, and credit reports belonging to 12 victims of identity theft, Brock said.

Turenne and Cantey were each charged with identity theft and possession of false government documents. Turenne was charged with possession of stolen credit cards and Cantey was charged with fraudulent use of stolen credit cards.

They were each sent to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Hemmings was charged with identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and possession a stolen credit card. He was sent to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $17,500 bail.