28-Year-Old Woman Poses as 16-Year-Old to Enroll in U.S. High School, Arrested After Social Media Exposes Her
A 28-year-old New York woman was arrested after posing as a 16-year-old to enroll in a Bronx high school, with social media revealing her true identity and age.
A 28-year-old woman from New York City was arrested by police for posing as a 16-year-old girl to enroll in a high school in the Bronx. The case has captured significant American public attention due to its resemblance to several Hollywood films about adults impersonating students.
The suspect, identified as Casey Classen, faced charges of identity fraud and trespassing before appearing in court in late April. She denied all allegations. According to court documents, Classen applied to a high school on April 13 using the fake name "Chamara Rachad" and claimed to have been born in 2010 to appear as a 16-year-old. She told the school principal that she had recently moved from Ohio. However, school officials became suspicious after discovering information on social media that revealed her true age and identity.
When questioned by police, Classen admitted to lying and claimed a friend had suggested she commit the fraud to access more government assistance programs. She was released on her own recognizance and scheduled to return to court on June 15.
A spokesperson for the New York school system stated that enrollment fraud is a serious crime that undermines the fundamental values of the education system. Police are continuing their investigation and will pursue appropriate legal action. This is not the first such case in the United States—in 2023, a 29-year-old woman named Hye-jeong Shin from New Jersey was accused of forging a birth certificate to enroll in high school. She entered a probation program and underwent psychiatric evaluation.
These incidents have prompted calls from various parties in the U.S. for schools to implement stricter student identity verification measures to prevent safety risks within educational institutions.
