On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, a complainant came to police headquarters reporting that he had been the victim of bank fraud. He had been advised that an individual had made an in-person unauthorized wire transfer from one of his accounts to another unaffiliated account in the amount of $89,000.00. Through investigation, John Hammonds was developed as a suspect in this incident. It is alleged that it was Hammonds who had conducted the transaction at an M&T bank branch located within the state of New York by representing himself as the victim. An arrest warrant was sought and granted for Hammonds. On Thursday, August 20, 2026, Westport Police were advised by authorities in New Jersey that Hammonds was in custody and would be extradited to their state in connection with other unrelated charges. On Monday, September 28, 2026, Westport detectives responded to the Union County Sheriff’s Office in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where Hammonds was being held in connection with our agency’s active warrant. He was extradited back to Connecticut where he was formally charged with Larceny First Degree and Identity Theft Third Degree. Bond was set by the court at $100,000.00. Hammonds was unable to post this bond. He was transported to Stamford Superior Court for arraignment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
