BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Buffalo man was indicted Thursday for allegedly stealing around $136,000 from two companies in a utility fraud scheme, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said Friday.

It is alleged that 29-year-old Umar Graham operated the company "Buffalo CPN" and used it to defraud multiple people between February 2024 and Aug. 29, 2025. He gathered over 250 items of personal identifying information from victims, as well as payment, officials said.

Graham then allegedly opened service accounts with utility providers using Credit Privacy Numbers, resulting in around $136,000 in financial losses to two utility companies.

He was released on his own recognizance and a return date is pending.

"While this case is the first of its kind to be prosecuted by this office, it hi

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