A 28-year-old woman has been accused of pretending to be a 16-year-old student and enrolling at a Bronx high school under a false identity, leading to her arrest by New York City police, according to officials.
The Case of Kacy Claassen
Kacy Claassen pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal impersonation in the second degree and trespassing on April 28, the day after her arrest, as shown in Bronx court records. The case against Claassen is part of a series of similar incidents in the United States that evoke plots from movies such as Hiding Out (1987) and Never Been Kissed (1999).
Alleged Scheme Unravels
A criminal complaint, first reported by Manhattan-based WABC and the New York Post, alleges that Claassen enrolled at Westchester Square Academy on April 13, claiming her name was Shamara Rashad and that her date of birth was in 2010. She reportedly told the school's principal that she had just moved from Ohio. However, police say the ruse fell apart when the school director confronted her with a social media page that revealed her true age and identity.
Investigators maintain that Claassen then confessed, stating that a friend made her lie so she could receive more public assistance. Police arrested Claassen at the school, and court records indicate she was later released without having to post bond pending the outcome of the case.
Legal Proceedings and Reactions
A public defender listed for Claassen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for New York City's public school system issued a statement to WABC and the Post, saying that “enrollment fraud is a serious crime that fundamentally undermines [the district’s] values.” The statement continued: “[Police are] actively investigating these allegations and will pursue all appropriate legal action against those responsible. We are providing all necessary and suitable support to the school community.” Claassen’s next court appearance was tentatively scheduled for June 15.
Similar Incidents Across the US
Claassen’s arrest occurred just over 50 miles (80 km) from a New Jersey high school where a 29-year-old woman was arrested in January 2023 on allegations of fraudulently enrolling as a student. In that case, investigators alleged that Hyejeong Shin provided a fake birth certificate to convince officials she was eligible to enroll at New Brunswick High. Shin later reportedly enrolled in a pre-trial program for three years, also required to undergo mental health testing and pay fines.
Four years before Shin’s arrest, a man in his mid-20s was found to have gained admission to Dallas’s Hillcrest High School under a false name and became the best player on the school’s basketball team. That man, Sidney Gilstrap-Portley, was ultimately sentenced to six years' probation after pleading guilty to records tampering and indecency with illicit sexual contact involving a 14-year-old Hillcrest student, according to news reports.
