New York charges woman with faking relationship to Sandy Hook victim

NEW YORK, May 15 (UPI) -- A New York woman accused of faking a relationship to one of the victims of Connecticut's Sandy Hook school shooting now faces state as well as federal charges.

The Bronx County District Attorney's Office said Nouel Alba, 37, has been charged with one count each of scheming to defraud and identity theft, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported Wednesday.

Alba already faces a federal charge of making false statements to federal agents.

A release issued by the district attorney's office accused Alba of claiming to be the aunt of 6-year-old Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim Noah Pozner on Facebook and soliciting money to pay for funeral expenses.

The donations were sent to a specific Paypal account, the district attorney said

Alba was arrested at her home Tuesday morning and later arraigned in New York State Supreme Court where bail was set at $10,000.