A NewYork‑Presbyterian call to a Darien wife about her husband in intensive care led investigators to a counterfeit driver’s license and a fraudulent New York LLC that allegedly received an unauthorized $100,000 transfer from the victim's savings account. Police say surveillance footage, bank records and the fake ID linked the case to Cary Lee Kleiner, who was arrested in Massachusetts and faces multiple felony charges. Authorities say more than $14,500 was converted into money orders and urge suspected victims to contact their banks, review credit reports and report fraud at IdentityTheft.gov.
Hospital Call About ‘Her Husband’ Helps Unravel $100,000 Identity Theft, Warrant Says
Image Credit: Darien Police Department.
In January 2023 a routine call from NewYork-Presbyterian to a Darien couple set off a months‑long investigation that uncovered an alleged $100,000 identity‑theft scheme. A physician told the wife that her husband was in intensive care — but the admitted patient was using the victim's name, birth date and home address.
How investigators traced the fraud
Police say the patient carried a counterfeit Connecticut driver’s license containing the Darien man’s personal data but a different photograph. Once the patient could speak with hospital staff, he reportedly identified himself as Cary Lee Kleiner, 54, of Boston. Detectives later tied that false ID to a fraudulent New York limited liability company and a business bank account that received roughly $100,000 from the victim’s savings.
According to the arrest warrant, the victim discovered the unauthorized electronic transfer on January 3, 2023; the transaction had been executed on December 30, 2022. Investigators say the receiving account was opened in the name of a bogus New York LLC that listed the Darien man as the registered agent — a step prosecutors allege was taken using the stolen identity.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Evidence and alleged money trail
Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the bank where the business account was opened and found that the person who opened the account matched the photograph on the counterfeit license and a prior booking photo of Kleiner. Bank records showed more than $14,500 of the transferred funds was used to purchase money orders at Stop & Shop stores in Westchester County, N.Y. Surveillance video from two stores showed a different individual making those purchases; authorities describe that person as an unidentified conspirator.
Darien police say Kleiner was located in Salem, Massachusetts, on July 5 while listed as a fugitive from justice. He waived extradition, and Darien detectives took custody of him on July 21. He faces charges including first‑degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first‑degree larceny, first‑degree identity theft and conspiracy to commit identity theft. Current court records cited by CT Insider show he is held on a $250,000 bond, with a plea hearing scheduled for September 4. No conviction has been reported; the charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What victims should do
Authorities urge anyone who suspects their identity has been used to open accounts or transfer funds to contact the financial institution’s fraud department immediately and to report every unauthorized account or transfer. The Federal Trade Commission recommends reviewing bank statements and credit reports for unfamiliar activity and placing free credit freezes with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion when identity theft is suspected.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that traditional credit reports may not show every checking or deposit account opened with stolen information. Consumers can request reports from specialty checking‑account reporting companies and dispute any accounts they do not recognize. Victims should preserve bank records, copies of fraudulent identification, business documents and emails, and report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, which provides an action plan for recovery.
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