Posted on: May 10, 2025 02:20 PM

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State police arrest Long Island man in connection to ongoing fraud scheme targeting elderly victim

The New York State Police in Troop K, in coordination with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, arrested a Long Island man following a coordinated undercover operation that disrupted an elaborate fraud scheme targeting a local resident.

On May 5, 2025, A 73-year-old woman from Columbia County reported to SP Livingston that she had been the victim of an ongoing fraud scam involving individuals claiming to be federal agents with the Federal Trade Commission. Since March 2025, the suspects convinced the victim that her identity had been compromised and used in overseas financial crimes. The suspects instructed her to withdraw money from her retirement accounts and convert it into cash and gold, which she then physically delivered to unknown individuals posing as federal agents.

Between March 17 and May 5, the victim handed over $30,000 in cash on two separate occasions and $68,300 in gold bars during a third transaction. A fourth transaction was scheduled for May 7.

State Police Investigators and members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office organized a covert operation for the scheduled May 7 meeting at an apartment building in the Town of Greenport. At the suspect's direction, the victim delivered the package to a man driving a white Ford Mustang. After accepting the package, the suspect attempted to leave the area but was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect was identified as Mykhaylo Mykhaylov, age 39, of Copiague, NY. He was transported to SP Livingston, where he was interviewed by State Police investigators and a Homeland Security agent.

From NYSP