NEW ROCHELLE, NY – A former Stamford resident, embroiled in a significant fraud case, was found fatally shot just days before he was to appear in court. David Smith, 22, was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds at the Heritage Homes complex on Monday morning. Authorities reported that a personal dispute culminated in the tragedy, leading to the arrest of four individuals allegedly involved in the incident.
Smith had been due to face Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday to respond to a plea offer regarding accusations of defrauding DoorDash drivers in California of nearly a million dollars. His unexpected death has left the state attorney’s office grappling with how to proceed.
Residents in the community were instrumental in the investigation, providing police with crucial information about the incident, including reports of gunfire and descriptions of individuals fleeing the scene. Smith had relocated to Mount Vernon following his arrest by Stamford police in June 2023, which marked the unearthing of what investigators described as an unprecedented fraud scheme.
The intricate scam involved Smith using multiple phones to place fictitious DoorDash orders. Once drivers were en route, he would impersonate DoorDash support, claiming issues with the order and directing drivers to click on a link or visit a website. This tactic allowed him to capture their login credentials, subsequently altering billing information to siphon off their earnings.
Over a two-and-a-half-year period, more than 700 drivers fell victim to the scheme. Additionally, Smith allegedly stole identities to open fraudulent debit card accounts, further complicating the case. At the time of his death, Smith was contemplating a plea deal, the specifics of which remain undisclosed.
Authorities recovered $733,000 in cash from Smith’s apartment, stored in five safes, as part of the investigation. The fate of these funds, including whether they will be used for victim restitution, is to be decided at a hearing scheduled for March. This hearing will also see the formal dismissal of charges against Smith due to his demise.
Smith’s attorney, Frank, expressed shock at the news of his client’s death, describing Smith as a quiet and kind young man. The legal proceedings, now halted, leave many questions unanswered about the future of the case and the restitution for those affected by the fraud.