Thaindian News

QUEENS, NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — Malikah Shabazz, the youngest daughter of late activist Malcom X, on Tuesday was charged with fraud and stealing personal identification information in Queens, New York, prosecutors said.

Shabazz, 44, was accused of defrauding more than $55,000 from a 70-year-old woman who is the widow of one of her father’s bodyguards as well as stealing the woman’s personal identification information. The offenses took place between August 2006 and November 2007.

“The defendant is accused of stealing not only a substantial amount of money from a once close family friend but her personal identity, as well. The alleged theft represents a shameful betrayal of the friendship that existed between the two families,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Shabazz was charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, forgery, criminal possession of a forged instrument, identity theft, falsifying business records, scheme to defraud and unlawful possession of personal identification information.

The defendant was arrested in Mars Hills, North Carolina, last February 18. The arrest warrant was issued in New York on October 16, 2009. The defendant faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. She will appear at an extradition hearing in North Carolina this day.

According to the charges, Khaula Bakr, the widow of a bodyguard who was with Malcom X when he was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem on February 21, 1965, was a longtime family friend.

Bakr, a Queens resident, received a letter from Wells Fargo Bank informing her that she had a credit account with them that was past due in the amount of $28,789.38. However, Bakr never opened such an account nor authorized anyone else to do so in her name.

The bank reports listed her address in Columbia, South Carolina, the location of a residence allegedly belonging to Malikah Shabazz. Two additional credit card accounts were discovered in Bakr’s name with the same address.

Records allegedly listed amounts of a total of over $55,000 as well as a letter allegedly from Bakr with her signature, as well as Shabazz as a co-signer of the letter, requesting a re-issue of credit cards and checks with a new account and pin number.

Shabbaz allegedly obtained Bakr’s personal identification information from the widow herself under the pretext of needing the information for paperwork involving a child care power of attorney. Such child care documents were never received.