Man arrested for alleged scams in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, drugs also seized

A man is facing several charges in an alleged multi-state scam, authorities say.

According to police, several weeks ago, a Westfield, MA resident fell victim to a scam in which he sold a Rolex watch and was paid with a fake cashier’s check.

During the course of the investigation, Detective Williams learned that the same suspect had used the same scheme on other victims in MA, CT, NY and NJ. Working with Detective Williams, a friend of the original victim listed a similar watch for sale. He was contacted by the same party who had scammed his friend. The suspect agreed to meet in the lobby of the Westfield Police Department to purchase the watch.

The suspect, Leslie Pinkerton, 27, of White Plains, NY, arrived at the station and was taken into custody. Pinkerton arrived in Westfield in a vehicle operated by Dante Cooper-Rich, 29, of East Orange, NJ.

Oxycodone pills and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) were located in the vehicle and Cooper-Rich was also found to be unlicensed. He was also taken into custody.

Pinkerton is charged with Larceny over $1200 by single scheme (2 counts), Possession of a false RMV document (fake NJ driver’s license), Possession of a class A drug, and Possession of a class C drug.

Cooper-Rich is charged with Operation of a motor vehicle without a driver’s license, Possession of a class A drug, and Possession of a class C drug.

Pinkerton’s bail was originally set at $100,000. It was reduced to $15,000 at arraignment. Cooper-Rich’s bail was originally set at $25,000. It was reduced to $1,000 at arraignment.

This investigation remains ongoing and additional charges in Westfield are possible. Pinkerton also has pending charges in multiple other jurisdictions related to this investigation.