LI woman arrested after attempting to sell adopted dogs on Craigslist: DA

MINEOLA, Long Island (PIX11)- A Suffolk County woman was arrested on Friday for filing false paper work and false representations to local animal shelters in order to take custody of dogs and sell animals for profit, according to authorities.

Lisette Tobon, 23, of Central Islip, was charged with two account of offering a false instrument for filing and one count for scheme to defraud. Tobon faces a maximum sentence of 1-1/3 to 4 years in prison and is due back in court on March 18.

'Animal shelters are a taxpayer-funded service established to safeguard the animals under their care, and not a free pet store for people to make a profit,' District Attorney Kathleen M. Rice said. 'These animals deserve to be adopted by people who will love and take care of them - not exploit them to make an easy buck.'

According to authorities, Tobon went to adopt an 8-year-old Pekinese named 'Willow' on Nov.19 at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter in Port Washington that she had seen on the town's website. She filled out the adoption paperwork and listed an address in Rocky Point where she had not lived for several months along with a false telephone number, authorities say. Despite the inaccurate information, she was able to take 'Willow' home that day.

In the contract Tobon signed with the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter, she agreed not to sell the pooch without the consent of the shelter and had to expect a personal visit from their staff to check up on animal.

However, within a couple days a woman responded to an ad about a puppy for sale and agreed to meet the seller-later identified as Tobon-at the Islandia Shopping Center. Tobon sold the dog that the shelter identified as 'Willow' to the woman for $200.

As if selling one dog wasn't enough, Tobon allegedly contacted the same shelter to adopt another dog who could be a playmate for 'Willow' on Dec. 20, a Husky named 'Knuckles.' The shelter staff then told the district attorney's office that Tobon was using Craiglist to make a profit off shelter dogs, and confronted her when she came to pick up Knuckles.

Tobon tried to pull another one of her antics at the Town of Babylon Municipal Shelter in Feb. 14 where she provided false information and attempted to adopt another dog, Rice said.

Assistant District Attorney Brandon Sloane of District Attorney Rice's Animal Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.