Nouel Alba: Woman Arrested For Newtown Shooting Charity Facebook Scam

Nouel Alba Photo

Nouel Alba, a New York City resident, has been arrested after she allegedly solicited money intended for victims of the Newtown shooting tragedy.

Alba, 37, is accused of posing as the aunts of one of the shooting victims (six year old Noah Pozner) and pulling in money via Facebook. She has been charged with making false statements to FBI agents probing the crime.

The FBI’s statement explains: “At ALBA’s instruction, donor-victims sent money to a PayPal account controlled and accessed by ALBA. When contacted by FBI Special Agents investigating fundraising and charity scams related to the Newtown tragedy, ALBA falsely stated that she did not post information related to Newtown on her Facebook account, solicit donations or recently access her PayPal account. ALBA also falsely claimed to have immediately refunded any donations that she received.”

When the FBI asked Alba about the scam, she claimed someone else had used her Facebook page to set up the solicitation.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Mertz: “It is unconscionable to think that the families of the victims in Newtown and a sympathetic community looking to provide them some sort of financial support and comfort have become the targets of criminals.” He continued, “Today’s arrest is a stern message that the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who perpetrate Internet fundraising scams, especially those scams that exploit the most vulnerable in their time of shared sorrow.”

Alba has been released on $50,000 bond and faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.