A Kissimmee woman claimed to be a U.S. Air Force pilot and lieutenant colonel to fraudulently buy a new $60,000 Ram 1500 pickup and a Toyota vehicle, Polk County detectives say.

Vanessa Tesky of Kissimmee charged with fraud, grand theft

Deputies say she said she was Air Force pilot to buy $60,000 pickup

They said she also used same scheme to buy Toyota in Orlando



Vanessa Tesky, 48, faces several charges, including fraud, misrepresenting military, grand theft and obtaining a vehicle by false pretenses.

The investigation started in November 2016, deputies said, when Tesky went to a Davenport Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership to buy a 2016 Ram 1500 pickup. While there, she identified herself as an Air Force pilot earning $7,000 a month and produced a U.S. military ID card.

Through a credit check, the sales staff learned that Tesky had poor credit but continued to believe that Tesky was an Air Force service member and tried to work with her on getting the truck. The staff said she'd have to provide a large down payment, which deputies said was paid with two false checks off a closed USAA bank account. The total sales price after taxes and dealer fees was $60,285.30, including a small military rebate.

Tesky left the dealership with the truck.

On Dec. 2, the dealership learned that the USAA account was closed. It tried to contact Tesky, but she told them she was in an accident with the truck, and it was at a Navy base in Maryland. The dealership tried unsuccessfully to repossess the vehicle, then contacted Polk County Sheriff's Office.

During the investigation, Sheriff's Office detectives determined the military ID card that Tesky provided at the dealership indicated she is a military dependent. Additionally, the dealership said Tesky didn't produce the actual ID card while there; she claimed it had been stolen and had photocopies.

Detectives reached out to Tesky to set up an interview regarding the incident. She told them she was a pilot with the U.S. Air Force and could provide documentation the day of the interview, which deputies said she didn't show up for.

Detectives contacted the Defense Department and confirmed Tesky was never in the military nor is a military dependent. Detectives then obtained a warrant on Tesky for scheme to defraud and grand theft.

On Wednesday, detectives made contact with Tesky in Osceola County. They said she was in possession of a new Toyota she said she'd just bought. After contacting the Orlando Toyota dealership she'd gotten the vehicle from, detectives learned she was trying to commit the same fraud scheme with that dealer, they said.

During a post-Miranda interview, Tesky admitted she was not in the Air Force but said she is a dependent of her ex-husband, who is, deputies said. Detectives said they found the check books from USAA bank, a military dependent ID and a letter written to Mullinax Ford in Kissimmee, indicating she is a lieutenant colonel with the Air Force, in her possession.

Tesky, who has an extensive criminal history including charges of fraud, grand larceny and grand theft, was arrested in Osceola County, booked into the Osceola Jail and will be transferred to the Polk County Jail.