VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A French man accused of using various aliases — including one of a fictitious Rockefeller heir — to defraud people in the United States and Europe has been arrested in Canada, police said Saturday.
Christophe Rocancourt, 33, and his common-law wife were detained Thursday night at a hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, on suspicion of fraud. Their 4-year-old son was turned over to British Columbia child welfare authorities.
Rocancourt and Maria Pia Reyes, 36, were charged Friday with defrauding a Vancouver couple of more than $3,330.
Reyes, a former Playboy magazine model, was released on bail, and Rocancourt remained in custody until a Monday court appearance, defense lawyer Tim Russell said. Russell said he expected the couple’s child to be returned to Reyes.
Rocancourt, the subject of articles in Vanity Fair and other publications, allegedly has used various aliases and claims ties to royalty and former President Clinton in hobnobbing with celebrities around the world.
According to a warrant sworn in U.S. District Court in New York, Rocancourt posed as a wealthy man “to gain the confidence of his intended victim, including, at times, posing as Christopher Rockefeller.” There is no such member of the Rockefeller family.
The warrant outlines several schemes that follow a similar pattern — Rocancourt allegedly offers to provide a loan or investment but asks first for money up front to cover his costs.
“In each of these cases, defendant Christopher Rocancourt disappeared without providing the funds for the loan or return on the investment after receiving the upfront money from the victims,” says the warrant sworn by FBI agent William Hansen.
According to several media stories, Rocancourt was born in Honfleur, France, and has been in trouble much of his life. From 1987 to 1992, he was investigated by Paris officials in connection with various swindles.
Swiss authorities have investigated him in connection with an armed theft of gems from a jewelry store in Geneva in 1991.
A few years later, U.S. authorities say Rocancourt was living in Beverly Hills, Calif., passing himself off as the nephew of Italian movie mogul Dino De Laurentis.
The Canadian investigation began with a complaint about a business deal in the Whistler, British Columbia area, police said.
