A shocking case of fraud has emerged in New York City, where police say a 28-year-old woman posed as a 16-year-old girl to enroll in a Bronx high school. She was later arrested after school officials became suspicious and uncovered her true identity.
The accused, identified as Kacy Claassen, allegedly used the fake name “Shamara Rashad” to enroll last month at Westchester Square Academy in the Bronx. In official documents, she claimed she was born in 2010 and had recently moved to New York from Ohio with her sister.
According to police, Claassen attended classes regularly for about two weeks and was even issued a school ID under the false identity. However, suspicions raised by the school principal led to further investigation. Her real identity was ultimately confirmed through a screenshot of her Facebook profile.
During questioning, Claassen admitted to the deception. She reportedly told authorities that a friend had encouraged her to enroll in order to qualify for additional public assistance.
She was arrested on April 27 on the school campus. She now faces charges including endangering the welfare of a child, trespassing, and criminal impersonation. Claassen has pleaded not guilty, and her next court appearance is scheduled for June 15.
In a statement, New York City school officials said, “Enrollment fraud is a serious crime that fundamentally undermines the values of New York City Public Schools.” They added that the NYPD is actively investigating the case and will take appropriate legal action against those
responsible, while also providing necessary support to the school community.
Westchester Square Academy is part of a campus that houses six schools. Lehman High School, one of the schools on the campus, sent a letter to families stating that initial suspicions regarding the woman’s identity were ultimately confirmed to be true.
