Bronx Woman Arrested For Impersonating Newtown Victim

Nouel Alba, 37, was nabbed by the FBI for posing as a relative of one of the children killed in Newtown, CT. accused of further victimizing the families who suffered losses in the tragedy.

Last week, NBC’s Jeff Rossen reported that Alba posted a solicitation on Facebook within hours of the shooting, identifying herself as an aunt of Noah Pozner, one of the 20 children shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Dec. 14.

Later, as families were grieving and the nation was looking for any and every way to help the victims’ families, she asked for funds to pay for the funeral, Rossen reported.

At Alba’s instruction on the Facebook page owned by “Victorian Glam Fairys,” donors sent money to a PayPal account that Alba controlled and accessed, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office…

When FBI Special Agents investigating fundraising and charity scams related to the Newtown tragedy contacted her, Alba lied, stating that she did not post information related to Newtown on her Facebook account, solicit donations or recently access her PayPal account, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Alexis Haller, the uncle of Noah Pozner, said Alba is not related to the family and never gave the family any of the funds raised.

“This arrest should serve as a warning to anyone who attempts to profit from this tragedy by contriving fraudulent schemes that exploit the many victims, their families and individuals who sincerely want to help,” stated U.S. Attorney David Fein.  “Investigators continue to monitor the Internet to uncover other fundraising scams arising from this tragedy, and the individuals operating them face federal or state prosecution to the fullest extent permitted by law.”

Alba was charged with lying to FBI agents. She was released on a $50,000 bond . She hid her face as she left court on Thursday and said nothing to reporters.

By: Cheston Catalano

Cheston Catalano is a Kentucky-based journalist whose work has been featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press and the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle. He is a long-time contributor to Liberaland.