Crime & Safety

Raymond Roth Convicted in Freeport Case

Man who faked his own death convicted of burglary, imprisonment, criminal impersonation in separate case.

The “missing swimmer” who faked his own death with the help of his son in 2012 was convicted on separate charges stemming from an incident in Freeport where he pretended to be a police officer, reported the Nassau County District Attorney.

Raymond Roth, 49, of Massapequa, was found guilty of third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal impersonation, second-degree attempted unlawful imprisonment, and second-degree criminal impersonation Friday.

Additionally, Roth was found not guilty of second-degree attempted kidnapping and first-degree attempted coercion.

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Roth was arrested in March just five hours after he pleaded guilty to faking his death. Roth had reportedly followed a woman walking in Freeport and shouted at her several times to get into his van while he drove. He then claimed he was a police officer and said he would arrest her, prompting her to flee to a nearby check cashing store. He again identified himself as police to security and demanded that they let him into the store. Security called the real police and Roth fled, officials reported.

Roth’s latest conviction came days after his son, Jonathan, was sentenced to one year behind bars for helping his father fake his own death. Jonathan was the 911 caller who reported his father missing in the water off of Jones Beach, officials said.

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