Man wanted by Saline police is nabbed by fugitive investigators in New York

By Lee Higgins Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 1 p.m.

A Saline man is awaiting extradition to Michigan to face a host of fraud charges after being arrested Tuesday by fugitive investigators in Buffalo, N.Y.

Curtis Wesley Sandig, 24, is charged with absconding from bond, two counts each of identity theft and using a computer to commit a crime, three counts of making an unauthorized credit application with a financial institution and six counts of financial transaction device fraud.

Saline police Det. Don Lupi said Sandig is accused of taking people’s personal information and opening credit card and bank accounts under their names to buy televisions, computers, furniture and other items. At least two people were victimized in the alleged scheme that ran from Dec. 25, 2010, and continued until at least Feb. 1 of this year, police said.

Lupi said Sandig was orginally extradited from California to face 13 of the charges. Because of a clerical error, Sandig was only arraigned on two of the charges, Lupi said, and was released from the Washtenaw County Jail on April 25 after paying $350. Lupi suspects had Sandig been arraigned on all charges, the bond would have been significantly higher. Lupi did not have specifics on the clerical error.

After Sandig was released from jail, Lupi said he didn't show up for court and fled to New York.

On Tuesday, Buffalo police fugitive investigators nabbed Sandig at an apartment he was renting in Buffalo, Lupi said. It's unclear when Sandig will return to Michigan.