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Congratulations to Detective David Grigg, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Detective of the Quarter,” for the fourth quarter of 2024.
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ACTION/ RECOMMENDATION:
I am pleased to nominate Detective David Grigg for the Detective of the 4th Quarter Award in recognition of his outstanding work and dedication to duty in a recent investigation resulting in the apprehension of a suspect that was extradited on December 04, 2024, from Denver, Colorado for substantial fraud violations by using sophisticated credit card skimming devices (case 23- 002590).
BACKGROUND:
During the 4th quarter, Detective Grigg's exemplary performance came to light during a crucial investigation involving a sophisticated credit card skimming scheme, where the subject he successfully identified was extradited from Denver, Colorado and booked in Miami-Dade County on December 04, 2024.
Laurentiu Urziceanu, the defendant, was initially prosecuted in Colorado in 2016 for significant fraud violations. After entering the U.S. illegally from Romania, Urziceanu defrauded numerous bank customers across Colorado and other states using advanced credit card skimming devices. This led to his conviction for bank fraud and a federal prison sentence, after which ICE deported him to Romania.
In February 2023, Urziceanu illegally re-entered the U.S. and resumed defrauding citizens in Florida through another sophisticated skimming scheme. On April 19, 2023, he placed a skimmer on an ATM at the Synovus Bank in Coral Gables. Before law enforcement could apprehend him, he fled and continued his criminal activities in other parts of Florida.
Detective Grigg took over the investigation shortly, thereafter, employing facial recognition and other techniques to identify Urziceanu as the perpetrator. Detective Grigg obtained an arrest warrant and issued a detailed BOLO to alert fellow law enforcement agencies to Urziceanu's activities. He also contacted the United States Attorney District of Colorado's office recognizing that they handled the original case against Urziceanu. Detective Grigg's case proved instrumental in aiding multiple agencies in bringing charges against Urziceanu. His investigative work and shared intelligence supported the Lake County Sheriff's Office (case# 230044748/OCN23CF001362) and the U.S. Marshals (OCN01310019115) in pursuing active warrants for the defendant. The Leesburg Police Department (case# 23-03-0378) and the New York State Police Department (case# 23167964) also benefited from Det. Grigg's findings, which were critical to building their cases. Furthermore, his contributions provided the U.S. Attorney's Office in Colorado with essential evidence to pursue supervised release violations under Federal Case No. 16-cr-00085-PAB.
Detective Grigg's timely notification and case reports enabled the United States Attorney District of Colorado' office to file revocation paperwork against Urziceanu, who was still on supervised release in Colorado. This critical action ensured his return to Colorado in April 2024 for a revocation hearing before the federal judge, following his 2023 arrest in New York for skimming activities.
Detective Grigg provided comprehensive case reports and conducted thorough follow-up investigations, including forensic analysis of the skimmer, DNA and fingerprint checks, and collection of surveillance footage. He testified at the revocation hearing on April 12, 2024, before the Chief Judge. His testimony was clear, credible, and unshaken under cross- examination. Thanks to Detective Grigg's meticulous investigation and compelling testimony, the Chief Judge found that Urziceanu violated his supervised release and sentenced him to an additional nine months in federal prison.
Detective Grigg's dedication, exceptional work, and willingness to travel to Colorado to support the federal case were instrumental in achieving a positive outcome. His professionalism, thoroughness, and positive demeanor make him an outstanding representative of the Coral Gables Police Department. I'm sending this memorandum to express my appreciation for Detective Grigg's exemplary performance in this matter. His efforts are a reminder of why I value my work and the strong partnerships we build with outstanding law enforcement professionals like him.
SYNOPSIS/CONCLUSION:
Based on Detective Grigg's exceptional performance, unwavering commitment to justice, and significant contributions to public safety, I wholeheartedly recommend him for the Detective of the 4th Quarter award. His actions exemplify the highest standards of investigative excellence and serve as a source of inspiration for his colleagues and the community alike.