Police issue warrants in scam sale of iPads

Posted 4/3/14

Warwick police are attempting to locate Clyde Brown, a 49-year-old black male who is wanted on two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses.

Detectives opened an investigation after two …

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Police issue warrants in scam sale of iPads

Posted

Warwick police are attempting to locate Clyde Brown, a 49-year-old black male who is wanted on two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses.

Detectives opened an investigation after two incidents at the Warwick mall last weekend. In both cases, two separate victims contacted police to report that they were scammed. Both of the victims’ stories were similar in nature.

The victims said they were walking through the Warwick Mall when approached by a man who offered to sell them an iPad for a deeply discounted price. Once money was handed over, a heavily sealed FedEx box was given to victims. The man then quickly left the area. The victim then spent some time opening up the carton, only to find the contents of the box to be heavily wrapped as well. Once that wrapping was taken apart, old magazines were the only thing in the box. By that time, the suspect was out of sight.

Police have identified the suspect as Clyde Brown and have issued two warrants for his arrest. Brown has an extensive criminal history spanning many states. His charges include pimping, drug dealing and theft.

In 2013, Brown was arrested in Charlotte, N.C. on larceny charges. In 2011, he was arrested in Tampa, Fla. for shoplifting, at which time police found several shipping packages that were made to appear that they contained Apple products. However, when the packages were opened by police, the boxes were found to contain phonebooks and magazines. At that time he also had an active arrest warrant from Torrance, Calif., for the exact same crime. Brown is a registered level III sex offender in Massachusetts, where he currently has an active arrest warrant for failing to comply with his registration requirements.

It is believed that Brown uses several aliases and may be in the company of others who act as lookouts. He is described as a black male, 5’8” tall weighing 220 pounds.

Anyone with information on Brown is asked to contact Detective Kerry Chatten (401-468-4237) or Detective David Morrow (401-468-4239).

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