Zachary Rosenberger, 25, was charged with third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit the crime, and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Prats set Rosenberger’s bond at $2,500. He is being held in lieu of that bond at Hartford Correctional Center and is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 13.

According to the police report written by Officer Christopher Dufresne, events happened this way: On Jan. 21, at about 5 p.m., police received a call from Springfield Police to be on the look out for a U-Haul moving truck with Arizona license plates. The vehicle was reported stolen and involved in a hit and run accident. An officer spotted the U-Haul on Route 190 turning onto Route 159. Police then stopped the U-Haul at the BP gas station on South Road. The driver, later identified as Rosenberger, was taken into custody without incident.

Rosenberger told police that two men in the sports utility vehicle in front of the U-Haul were paying him to drive the U-Haul. He said he didn’t really know them but that he was told to follow them wherever they went. Police approached the SUV. The driver was not there, but officers spoke to the passenger — later identified as Awosika — who said he didn’t know anything about the U-Haul. The man said the driver of the SUV — later identified as Okorie — was inside the BP store and police went inside to bring him out.

Rosenberger told police a friend contacted him about potentially making some money. Rosenberger said yes, and that the plan was to go to Eastfield Mall and buy some cell phones. He said he picked up the U-Haul at an apartment complex and was instructed to follow the SUV around. The six store credit cards that were found in the SUV were inspected and it was discovered that when the cards were swiped, a different number came up than what was printed on the cards. It was determined that the U-Haul was rented through fraudulent means in Newport, Rhode Island. The photo of the person who rented the vehicle did not match Okorie, Awosika or Rosenberger.

Police contacted the man Awosika attempted to pretend to be and discovered that the man’s identity had been stolen in November 2016 and multiple department store cards were opened in his name. Awosika also used the man’s social security number.