Detective helps nab con artist

    On Sept. 5, a 90-year-old Military Street resident reported that she had been contacted by an individual on Sept. 3, who identified himself as a Rico Black. Black informed the victim that she had won $50,000 in a Readers Digest Sweepstakes. Black informed the victim that in order to collect her winnings, she needed to wire him $2,900 to cover taxes owed the IRS. Black informed the victim that as soon as he received the MoneyGram, he would send her winnings. The victim participates in Reader Digest Sweepstakes so she thought the call was legitimate.
    The victim went to a local department store and spent $2,900 plus a $100 fee for the MoneyGram which was then wired to Black in Huntington, W.Va.
    On Sept. 4, the victim received a subsequent call from Rico Black informing her that the MoneyGram was not received and asked if she could send it again for the same amount. Black informed her that the first MoneyGram would be returned if it is received. Victim complied and sent another MoneyGram for $2,900 plus $100 for the MoneyGram fee to a location in Huntington.
    On Sept. 5, the victim returned to the department store where she purchased the two MoneyGrams as she had not heard from Rico Black. The clerk at the service counter informed her to contact the police department.
    Working closely with department store security staff, Det. Carolyn Crandall was able to learn that the first MoneyGram was picked up in Ripley, Tenn. and the second in Covington, Tenn.. Department store security in these locations provided crucial information valuable to the case. It was learned that Rico Black picked up 11 MoneyGrams valued at $2,900 in the previous three months. Store security was able to disclose that there were three individuals involved in picking up the MoneyGrams, one of which was in fact a male subject identified as Rico Black Black, believed to be 33 years of age with a last known address of Forest Park, Ga.
    Working with the Covington and Ripley police departments, Det. Crandall was able to obtain still photographs of Rico Black picking up the MoneyGrams and his supporting identification information. Investigators from the Covington Police Department indicated that Rico Black and his associates were responsible for picking up $200,000 worth of MoneyGrams within the past six months from victims scattered across the United States.
    Houlton PD was the first police department to contact them over the alleged scam. When police arrived at Black’s residence, numerous MoneyGram receipts were observed in the home. Black was subsequently questioned and arrested by the Covington Police Department. Working with the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office, a warrant of arrest has been issued for Black.
    Houlton Chief Butch Asselin credits Wal-Mart security, investigators of the Covington Police Department, Ripley Police Department and Det. Crandall of the Houlton Police Department in the arrest of Rico Black and the subsequent break up of a crime ring that was victimizing the elderly out of their life savings. The U.S. Postal Service and the FBI are now involved in the investigation.