A Fort Washington man accused of impersonating backup Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Vince Young was arrested Friday afternoon on a charge of felony fraud, authorities said.
Stephan Antwain Pittman, 33, was arrested in Temple Hills just after 2:30 p.m., said Capt. Kara Lloyd, a Prince George’s County police spokeswoman.
Pittman is charged with defrauding a woman who gave him $2,500 after he told her that the money would go to a foundation that does such things as provide hula hoops for neighborhood children, said Prince George’s police spokeswoman Julie Parker.
Pittman met the 28-year-old woman in June on Facebook and apparently suggested that he was connected to Young, authorities said. The two began to meet at various places, including a club in the District. Pittman eventually told the woman he was the Eagles backup quarterback, Parker said.
Parker said Pittman was convincing. “He’s 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, so he’s got that look,” she said. “And apparently he’s got a swagger about him. . . . He was charming, well spoken.”
At some point, Parker said, Pittman asked for the donation. She said that the woman grew suspicious but that she “began to feel intimidated and just gave him the money.” Pittman was arrested on a warrant from District police charging him with felony fraud, Prince George’s police said.
Parker said Prince George’s police joined the investigation after media reports alleged that someone was impersonating Young. She said she and other law enforcement officers met with the security chief for the NFL Players Association and other NFL officials. Because the suspect was a county resident, commanders “deemed it to be something we needed to look into,” Parker said.
Parker said that detectives are exploring other allegations of fraud involving Pittman and that they searched his Fort Washington home. She said detectives from Prince George’s and the District interviewed Pittman on Friday.
Online Maryland records list Pittman as 6’ 5” tall and 230 lbs — virtually the same height and weight listed for Young on the Eagles’ Web site.
Denise White, Vince Young’s publicist, said the quarterback was “thrilled” that police had arrested the man accused of impersonating him. She said Young had been adjusting to being a backup on a new team, and having an impersonator was “the last thing he needed.”
“We’re just happy and pleased that he’s caught, and he hopefully will be brought to justice,” White said.
Earlier this week, Young wrote a note on his Twitter feed saying ”To the my fans and the media, please be aware that there is man in the DC area that has been impersonating me.” Later that day, he thanked Prince George’s police for their help.
White said that back in May, women began contacting her office and Young’s charitable foundation, suspicious they were the victim of someone impersonating Young and soliciting donations. She said that she got in touch with NFL Player Association Security and the reports ceased but that last week, seven more people came forward to report they had donated money to a possible impersonator.
Pittman has been charged in only one case.
