An investigation launched early last year into a fraudulent vehicle purchasing scheme that targeted online sellers has concluded with the conviction of a 20-year-old from Portland, the Westbrook Police Department announced Monday.

In early 2023, Westbrook Police began investigating a criminal scheme in which a suspect would purchase a vehicle being sold online with a fraudulent check.

Westbrook Police detectives initiated an undercover operation in March of last year that culminated in the arrests of an adult and juvenile male.

The two suspects attempted to flee the scene but were apprehended following a foot pursuit, police said.

Law enforcement seized a firearm from one of the suspects and subsequently obtained a search warrant for a residence, where additional evidence and another firearm were discovered.

The adult suspect, Pierre Rouse, 20, from Portland, has pled guilty, and was sentenced to 27 months in prison, followed by 3 years of probation.

Rouse was also ordered to pay $24,000 in restitution to the victims of the fraud scheme.

Westbrook Police did not say whether the juvenile male suspect was convicted for his alleged role in the scheme.

“Along with solving the crimes that happened in Westbrook, our investigation helped solve similar crimes in other communities in the region,” Westbrook Police said Monday.

“Great work done by all the officers involved in this case, as they put an end to a scheme that had defrauded quite a few victims out of thousands of dollars,” the department added.