Crime & Safety

Delran Man Posed as Cop to Extort Immigrant: Police

Brian K. Lewis, of Tenby Chase Apartments, swindled the victim out of $15,000, according to authorities.

Rob Scott's profile picture
Rob Scott, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

A Delran man was arrested last week on multiple charges, including impersonating a police officer.

Brian K. Lewis, 38, of Tenby Chase Apartments, was arrested Thursday following a lengthy investigation, Delran Police said. He was charged with the following:

  • Theft by extortion 
  • Theft by deception (two counts)
  • Impersonation of a law enforcement officer
  • Possession of a firearm without first obtaining a permit to carry
  • Possession of a firearm for unlawful purpose
  • Terroristic threats
According to the Burlington County Times, Lewis—a former part-time police officer in Willingboro—convinced an immigrant worker he knew that he was a police officer and was aware of several outstanding warrants for the man's arrest. There were no such warrants, but the victim ended up giving Lewis approximately $15,000 over several weeks to pay off the warrants, police said. 

Lewis was sent to Burlington County Jail on $100,000 bail. He remains incarcerated.

Lewis was last in the news when the Burlington County bear was caught near his apartment. He claimed he and his friends encountered the bear laying in a courtyard at the complex early on the morning of its capture.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Cinnaminson