Angel Giancarlo Bellido Cosio, a Peruvian citizen unlawfully residing in the United States, was sentenced on April 23 to 36 months in prison for his role in a distraction theft and identity theft scheme, according to an announcement by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
The case is significant as it highlights efforts by federal authorities to address crimes targeting vulnerable populations such as elderly women. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil cases for the U.S. government within the district, according to the official website.
Court documents show that Bellido Cosio and at least two other Peruvian nationals rented vehicles across multiple states, stealing wallets from victims—often elderly women—at grocery and retail stores including Trader Joe’s and TJ Maxx. They then used stolen credit cards to purchase electronics and shipped them to a co-conspirator’s address in New Jersey. Rental records indicated they rented vehicles fourteen times over 144 days, driving more than 65,000 miles during their operation.
Bellido Cosio was involved in thefts from at least ten victims across Connecticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina, and Tennessee with more than $53,000 worth of goods purchased using stolen cards. He was arrested on March 13 after stealing a wallet at a store in Orange, Connecticut and using a victim’s card to buy Apple products totaling nearly $4,000.
Bellido Cosio pleaded guilty on January 30 to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; he has been detained since his arrest and will face immigration proceedings after serving his sentence. Two co-conspirators also pleaded guilty: Angel Eugenio Bances Chaponan received a sentence of twenty-four months last September while Erick Christian Luna de la Cruz awaits sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by several law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and police departments from multiple states. The U.S. Attorney’s Office serves all of Connecticut with locations in New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport; it employs about sixty-eight assistant attorneys along with fifty-seven support staff members as reported by its official website.
The office is one of the oldest federal prosecutorial offices established in 1789 according to its official website.