The Syracuse University graduate student who told police officers he was robbed by a fake taxi driver was charged with fabricating the event, sheriff’s deputies said.

Sheriff’s Detective Keith Hall charged Vikram G. Hosakote, 26, of 1007 Euclid Ave., with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Hosakote originally told officers from SU’s Department of Public Safety that on Jan. 31, he accepted a ride from a man posing as a cab driver on South Crouse Avenue and was driven out to Cicero and robbed, deputies said.

Hosakote was charged Thursday afternoon with fabricating the event, after Hall found several inconsistencies in Hosakote’s story.

‘I did not have any bad intentions to hurt or harm or harass any person,’ Hosakote said. ‘I confessed to the cops.’

Hosakote told detectives he was talking to his girlfriend on the phone when he made up the story that he was robbed, and that he continued to lie when his friends called the police.

‘I was emotionally upset that night, so I was very much confused,’ Hosakote said. ‘And things just got out of hand.’

He is set to appear in the City of Syracuse Criminal Court Feb. 24 for his arraignment.

Hosakote’s story prompted DPS to send out an e-mail alert to the university, warning against fake taxi drivers. It later issued a retraction e-mail.

shmelike@syr.edu

Published on February 8, 2009 at 12:00 pm