By Jeff Lipton
The suspect, identified as Michael Anderson of Heyson Road, was arrested by Long Beach Detective Christopher Walsh on Sept. 8 at 9:03 a.m. on National Boulevard and West Park Avenue, detectives said. Anderson was charged with three counts of petit larceny, two counts of third-degree identity theft and second-degree scheme to defraud.
Investigators credited the Herald for helping to find the suspect after the newspaper ran articles about the suspect's alleged scam, prompting victims to come forward and tell authorities that they also were approached by the suspect.
Anderson's alleged con game involved him confronting unsuspecting victims as they walked to their car in Long Beach or the Five Towns, identifying himself as former basketball player Kenny Anderson and telling them he locked his keys in his vehicle and needed a lift to a locksmith. The suspect is not believed to be related to the ex-NBA star. The suspect often told his victims that he needed to borrow between $200 and $400, promising to pay them back upwards of $1,000. Some told the suspect to take a hike while others fell for his scam.
He was arrested on Monday morning after someone called Long Beach police notifying them of a suspicious man asking for rides in the vicinity of 222 West Park Ave., said Sgt. Howard Domitz of Long Beach detectives.
Detectives arrested Michael Anderson, who stands 6-feet-3, after realizing the suspect was positively identified on three prior occasions by victims who picked him out of police mug shots during the investigation, Domitz said.
Domitz said the suspect was arrested on 11 prior occasions in New York City, Nassau County, Albany and other parts of upstate New York. At least one of those crimes involved a scam, he added.
"We got a lot of help from the [Herald] newspaper articles," said Domitz of the publicity the scams generated, leading to the suspect's capture.
Domitz said Long Beach detectives are coordinating their efforts with Five Towns detectives from the 4th Squad since the scams occurred in both jurisdictions.
"Hopefully, we will get more people who come forward," said Domitz. "We're looking to speak with anyone else who may have been victimized by him."
Anyone who may have been a victim of the alleged con man in Long Beach is urged to call detectives at (516) 431-1800. Anyone who may have been victimized in the Five Towns is urged to call the 4th Squad at (516) 573-6452. All calls will be kept strictly confidential, police said.
Those who have been approached by the smooth-talking suspect in recent weeks said they were thrilled that he was under arrest.
"That's great news, I'm glad to hear it," said Mark Carter, 45, of Inwood, who was approached two years ago and again about a month ago in front of Boston Market on Rockaway Turnpike in North Lawrence, but did not let the scam artist get his money.
"Apparently, he keeps getting arrested and he keeps doing it," said Luciano Morello, 39, of Hewlett, who was confronted by the suspect last month in the parking lot of Pen-Mil Shopping Center in Hewlett and also shooed away the suspect. "I'm very happy he's been arrested. My hope is that they keep him in jail so nobody else will get scammed by this guy."
The suspect was arraigned on the charges in Long Beach court on Tuesday.
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
