February 20, 2009
By Andy Grimm
Post-Tribune staff writer
An alleged con man who reportedly duped high-profile military and political figures claiming to be a counterintelligence expert and Special Forces officer now is being investigated by the FBI, local officials said Thursday.
It's relatively common knowledge that Cafasso is indeed a con artist. The long history of frauds he has pulled under numerous aliases some of which are listed in the header on this blog- rivals that of the relatively short career of Abagnale of "Catch Me If You Can" fame.
Joseph Cafasso, 52, has been in the Porter County Jail since Jan. 22, awaiting trial for failing to appear in court on charges of speeding and giving a false name to police investigators after he was pulled over in the Indiana Dunes State Park in October.
Conservation officers declined to comment Thursday on Cafasso, stating his case had been referred to the FBI for further investigation. FBI officials declined to say if they are investigating Cafasso.
And I doubt if they will ever make a statement regarding their "friend" and "stool pigeon".
According to an April 29, 2002, report in the New York Times, Cafasso claimed to be a well-connected spy who had a high-rank career in the Special Forces. Alleged victims included the Fox News network, Pat Buchanan's presidential campaign and "several representatives, military officials and activists to whom he had sold himself for years," the Times reported.
Cafasso also appeared as a military and counterterrorism expert during Fox's coverage of the invasion of Afghanistan, even though military records show that his total military experience was 44 days of boot camp at Fort Dix, N.J., in 1976.
Cafasso reportedly had been living for several months with a Chesterton woman whom he met on an Internet dating Web site, where he posted his identity as "Robert Stormer." That also was the name Cafasso initially gave to Conservation Officer Robert Kauffmann, as well as a false Social Security number, before admitting his real name.
The woman turned over to Chesterton police a laptop computer that belonged to Cafasso and investigators there said they might seek a warrant to search the computer's memory for evidence in an investigation of Cafasso.
That laptop is Kathryn Cramer's apple laptop, and I'm certain she would like to get it back.
All that stands between Cafasso and freedom, pending trial, is $500 bond, the Porter County Sheriff's department said.
That's sad and appalling, considering what they should be investigating regarding his escapades in Indiana and Florida.
Cafasso's alleged exploits have garnered him a Wikipedia page, and several other Web sites and blogs devoted to tracking his movements and activities.
Contact Andy Grimm at 648-3073 or agrimm@post-trib.com
That is an understatement, Andy! Cafasso's exploits should garner him a film and a book deal! Perhaps one day he will be in a position to capitalize on what he has done to defraud widows and spinsters out of cash--maybe he could advise people like Abagnale has done - should he ever decide to "come clean" and avoid prosecution for criminal identity theft and embezzlement.
joe cafasso
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