Rendell Cook

Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office released information on the arrest of Rendell Cook, 41 of Braithwaite. Cook has been booked with Identity Theft and Thefts of the Assets of an Aged Person or Disabled Person in the amount of: $24,609.00

On Tuesday, August 16, Plaquemines Parish Deputy Aimee Bossier was informed by the victim, a 74-year-old Belle Chasse resident, that his Social Security Disability funds for the past 18 months, which were intended to be directly deposited into his account, were being diverted and deposited into the Cook’s account.

Deputy Aaron Verrette, who conducted the follow-up investigation, learned and verified from bank executives, that shortly after the victim set-up his direct deposit account, the Social Security Administration was notified to change the account number and have the funds directed to a new account in the name of Rendell Cook. It was also learned through the investigation that the only way that the funds could be transferred from the victim’s account to Cook’s account was that Cook had obtained and provided the victim’s personal security information to the Social Security Administration.

The thefts went unnoticed for 18 months, as the elderly victim was confined to hospital stays on several occasions.

A Search Warrant and Arrest Warrant was obtained for the home and a person of Rendell Cook on August 29, 2011, at which time Deputies could not locate Cook.

On Monday, September 12, 2011, Cook surrendered to Deputy Verrette at Belle Chasse Lockup and was booked on the above charges. Cook is presently being held at the Belle Chasse Lockup.
Anyone with additional information on these thefts or any other possible identity thefts is asked to call Deputy Verrette at 504 564-2525.