Peruvian National Involved in Distraction Theft and Identity Theft Scheme Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANGEL EUGENIO BANCES CHAPONAN, 60, a citizen of Peru last residing in Queens, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment for his participation in a distraction theft and identity theft scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and local law enforcement agencies in Connecticut and elsewhere have been investigating a series of distraction thefts of wallets from victims, typically elderly women, at Trader Joe's grocery stores, TJ Maxx stores, and other retail stores in Connecticut and elsewhere since March 2022. The investigation revealed that Bances Chaponan and others rented vehicles to travel throughout the U.S. in order to steal wallets from unwary victims, and then use the victims' credit and debit cards to purchase electronic devices and other items. Bances Chaponan and his co-conspirators would stop at shipping providers along their route to ship the goods they purchased to a co-conspirator's address in New Jersey.

Court documents detail Bances Chaponan's role in the theft from 10 victims in Connecticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina, and Tennessee, and the purchase of more than $46,000 in goods using the victims' credit or debit cards.

Bances Chaponan was arrested on March 13, 2024, shortly after he used a stolen credit card to purchase a MacBook for approximately $2,850 and an iPad Pro for approximately $1,050. On June 20, 2024, he pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.

Bances Chaponan, who has been detained since his arrest, faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manchester (Conn.) Police Department, with the assistance of the Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department, the Spartanburg County (S.C.) Sheriff's Office, the Spartanburg Police Department, the Warwick (R.I.) Police Department, and the Metropolitan Nashville (Tenn.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.