March 24, 2022

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)- On March 1, 2022 an elderly resident received a phone call from a party pretending to be her nephew stating he was arrested for drunk driving striking a pregnant woman.  The imposter added he needed money to get out of jail.  Another man got on the phone claiming to be his attorney with the Legal Aid Society out of Manchester, NY.  The “Attorney” advised the victim would need $9,800.00 in cash to represent her nephew.  The victim was able to gather up the funds and contacted the “Attorney” again who stated he would be sending someone over to pick up the cash.  Approximately 2 hours later the cash was picked up.  The victim soon realized, she was scammed out of the money and reported this incident to Hamilton Police Division.  An investigation was conducted by Detective Nicholas Schulte which proved fruitful in identifying Raul Santos-Marte, 39 years of age from Bronx, NY and Karina De Los Santos-Polanco 34 years of age from Bronx, NY as suspects picking up the money. 

On March 21, 2022, both of the suspects came to Hamilton Police Division Headquarters and turned themselves in on their active criminal warrants.  Both Santos-Marte and Santos-Polanco were arrested, processed and transported to the Mercer County Corrections Center charged with Theft by Deception.

If anyone has any additional information on Santos-Marte and Santos-Polanco, please contact Detective Nicholas Schulte, phone: (609) 581-4030 or by email:  nschulte@hamiltonpd.org.

The Hamilton Police Division would like to warn the public that if a phone call is received from persons posing as officials demanding cash money and arranging for pickup, please keep in mind, these calls have been found to be scams.

Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.