WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — What started as a phone call from someone claiming to help protect a business account ended with a company losing $50,000, according to police.
Now, a Loganville man is facing multiple charges after investigators say he posed as a bank employee and convinced a Connecticut business to hand over tens of thousands of dollars.
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The investigation began in June 2025 when a West Hartford business reported suspicious activity involving its bank account. According to police, the company received a phone call from someone claiming to be a fraud manager with Webster Bank.
Investigators said the caller convinced the business they were helping address fraudulent activity on the account. Instead, police say the scheme resulted in the company losing $50,000.
After a yearlong investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Junior Astre, 41, of Loganville.
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Authorities obtained an arrest warrant charging Astre with first-degree identity theft, second-degree money laundering, first-degree larceny, criminal impersonation and second-degree telephone fraud.
On Wednesday, West Hartford detectives traveled to Georgia and took Astre into custody at the Gwinnett County Jail. He was then extradited to Connecticut to face the charges.
Police said Astre was being held on a $100,000 bond ahead of his arraignment scheduled for Aug. 7 in Hartford.
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