Greenwich police arrested charged a Florida man on July 17 after plainclothes officers targeting organized retail theft in the central Greenwich Business district were alerted by asset protection personnel from a local merchant.
The officers are familiar with the criminal trends and activity commonly occurring in central Greenwich and have developed contacts in the business community who provide anonymous information about suspicious activity.
Through their training and experience officers know that individuals and groups involved in theft, financial crimes and identity theft often travel to Greenwich to target local businesses.
On July 17 asset protection personnel notified ORCA officers of a suspect conducting suspicious transactions. ORCA officers spotted the suspect, later identified as Willians Lazaro Valdes Jimenez, 26, of Orlando, communicating via cell phone with a co-conspirator in a nearby getaway vehicle. As Mr. Valdes Jimenez hurriedly attempted to flee, police detained him.
Valdes Jimenez told police that he was using another person’s payment card with their permission, but asset protection provided the receipt for the transaction that utilized an American Express card. ORCA officers contacted that company who verified with the card holder that the transaction was fraudulent.
ORCA officers made contact with the fraud victim, age 81, who related that his wallet had been stolen earlier on the same day and that he did not know the accused.
Mr. Valdes Jimenez was charged with:
Larceny 1
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 1
Criminal Attempt Larceny 3 (six counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3 (six counts)
Criminal Attempt Larceny 4 (two counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 4 (two counts)
Payment Card Theft (five counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Payment Card Theft (five counts)
>$500 on Revoked Payment Card
Conspiracy to Commit >$500 on Revoked Payment Card (nine counts)
Criminal Attempt to Commit >$500 on Revoked Payment Card (eight counts)
Conspiracy to Commit/Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (nine counts)
Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card
Criminal Attempt/Receipt from Illegal use Credit Card (8 counts)
Identity Theft 1
Criminal Attempt / Identity Theft 1 (eight counts)
Conspiracy to Commit/Identity Theft 1 (nine counts)
Criminal Impersonation
Valdes Jimenez was in possession of merchandise from two nearby businesses. One item was valued at over $17,000 and the other two items from the other business totaled over $10,000.
Valdes Jimenez was found in possession of five payment cards belonging to the victim. Additionally, receipts were found on his person, which indicated eight other attempted transactions that were declined.
Valdes Jimenez was unable to post his $500,000 bond and has a date in Stamford Superior Court on July 31, 2026.