Copiague man accused of defrauding upstate woman of nearly $100,000, pretending to be federal agent, New York State Police say

New York State Police charged a Copiague man last week with defrauding an upstate woman of nearly $100,000 in cash and two gold bars, police said.

State police said a 73-year old woman living in Columbia County, south of Albany, was contacted by multiple people since March claiming to be federal agents with the Federal Trade Commission.

The woman, who was not identified, said the supposed agents convinced her that her identity was stolen and used to commit international financial crimes, state police said.

The suspects told the woman to withdraw funds from her retirement accounts to make two separate cash payments totaling $30,000. They also told her to convert her savings into gold bars, worth $68,300, and directed her to deliver the gold during a separate meeting.

After the woman contacted authorities, state police and Columbia County sheriff's deputies arranged for an undercover sting when the suspects had planned to pick up another package May 7 in the Hudson Valley Town of Greenport.

The woman was directed to deliver the package to the driver of a white Ford Mustang. The driver attempted to drive away after the handoff, before he was stopped and arrested by authorities, state police said.

Police charged Mykhaylo Mykhaylov, 39, of Copiague, who was arrested and interviewed by state police and an agent with the Department of Homeland Security.

Mykhaylov was charged with felony attempted grand larceny, attempted criminal possession of stolen property, criminal impersonation and misdemeanor conspiracy, police said. He was issued an appearance ticket for Greenport Town Court.

Court records were not available for his next appearance and did not list an attorney.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.