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Fingerprints identify lottery scam suspect
By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS, Times Staff Writer
Published September 1, 2007
TAMPA - Gabriela Matos just wanted to help. But the situation was getting complicated. This is how the 65-year-old ended up in a stranger's car with $12,000 in her purse:
A woman had approached her outside a West Tampa grocery store. The stranger said she had a winning lottery ticket, but because of her immigration status, she couldn't claim prize money.
Matos offered to cash it. But the woman, and a man also pretending to help, wanted some proof Matos wouldn't just take off with the ticket. She didn't have any money, Matos told them, except for that $12,000 certificate of deposit she planned to cash that day.
The man offered to drive her to the bank. Matos thought he had an honest face, so she got into his car. Not long after she withdrew the money, the man tricked Matos into stepping out of the car. That's when he yanked her purse off her arm, stepped on the gas, and took off with the woman and the cash.
That was in March. Now, Tampa police say they have matched the scammer's fingerprints to Jose Loaiza-Cruz, 38. Police say he pulled the same scam in March on 79-year-old Guillermo Franco, getting away with more than $5,000.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also looking for Loaiza-Cruz, who has been deported twice to Colombia.
There may be more victims out there, said Tampa police Cpl. Jared Douds. "Be wary of people who want your money. If something sounds a little too good to be true, it probably is."
Fast Facts
If you have any information about the lottery scheme, or about suspect Jose Loaiza-Cruz, call the Tampa Police department at (813) 231-6130.
Loaiza-Cruz is described as a Hispanic male, 5'4, 180 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He is also known as Alvaro Guzman and Luis Hernandez.
His vehicle is described as either a smaller SUV or a van with a sliding side door, anywhere from green to light grey in color.
[Last modified August 31, 2007, 23:26:34]
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