Statement of Facts — United States v. Charmant (Dkt. 68, N.D. Fla.)

Summary

A statement of facts for the guilty plea of Clonet Junior Charmant in United States v. Charmant, Case 4:21-cr-00036-AW-MAF, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, filed November 18, 2021 as Document 68. It recites that the CARES Act, passed March 27, 2020, included an Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 to individuals whose adjusted gross income was less than $75,000. It describes an investigation of a plan to defraud bank customers using Zelle, fraudulent account applications and stolen debit card numbers, including messages in which a co-defendant, Catala, sent card details of other people. It states that Charmant obtained or attempted to obtain more than $6,500 but less than $15,000, and sets out the elements of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Record facts

Full text

Text recognized from a scanned document; may contain errors.

Case 4:21-cr-00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 1of11

          IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
                   NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
                         TALLAHASSEE DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v.                                        CASE NO. 4:21¢r36-AW-MAF-3

CLONET JUNIOR CHARMANT
                                   /

                          STATEMENT OF FACTS

         The parties agree with the truthfulness of the following factual basis for

the defendant’s guilty plea. The undersigned parties further agree that not all of the

facts known from this investigation are contained in this brief summary. Defendant

admits that, if this case were to proceed to trial, the Government could prove the

following facts beyond a reasonable doubt:

         On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid,

Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which in part provides economic

relief for taxpayers nationwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid

package includes an Economic Impact Payment [(“EIP”), also known as a

“Coronavirus Stimulus check” or “Coronavirus Stimulus payment”] of $1,200 to

individuals, so long as their last annual adjusted gross income was less than

$75,000. Payments are distributed by the United States Treasury via direct deposit,

                                                   FILED IN OPEN COURT THIS

                                                       f/jg/a}          em

                                                      CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT
                                                    COURT, NORTH. DIST. FLA.

Case 4:21-cr-O00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 2 of 11

or by mail using the latest address on file with the Internal Revenue Service
(“IRS”).

On May 2, 2020, Tallahassee Police Department (“TPD”) received a report
from A.H., who advised TPD that her $1,200 EIP had been mailed to an old
residential address that she used for her W-2 (2700 West Pensacola Street,
Apartment 1223, Tallahassee, FL 32304). A.H. also advised that she received a
call from TD Bank (in South Carolina) informing her that an account using her
name, social security number, and her old West Pensacola Street address had been
created online. A.H. stated she only banked with Bank of America and had no
knowledge of the TD Bank account that was created. Further, A.H. advised that
she was told by TD Bank that her EIP check had been deposited into the TD Bank
account and that phone number (850) 462-2335 was used when the account was
opened in her name.

TD Bank records show that the account opened in the name of A.H. was
opened electronically on May 1, 2020, and A.H.’s Treasury check was deposited
into that account via mobile deposit on the same day. TD Bank records further
show that the phone numbers (850) 462-2335 and (786) 709-3353 (which was later
discovered to be Co-Defendant Joe Catala’s T-Mobile phone number) were
registered to the account; those phone numbers were later linked to Co-Defendant

Joe Catala. The TD Bank records also show that two Zelle transfers were made to
2

Case 4:21-cr-00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 3 of 11

“Clonet Charmant” on May 4, 2020 from that account. Law enforcement agents
later interviewed Defendant Charmant and he confirmed that the two Zelle
transfers were sent to him by Co-Defendant Joe Catala for what he claimed was
payment for shoes that Charmant’s mom had bought for Catala.

During the course of the investigation, agents learned that phone number
(850) 462-2335 was one of the phone numbers belonging to TextNow, Inc. for use
by its customers. TextNow, Inc. records revealed that on November 21, 2019, at
approximately 8:05 AM UTC, user account “drewhunchie” was created utilizing
email address drewhunchie@gmail.com, and that on April 22, 2020, at
approximately 3:00 AM UTC, “drewhunchie” took ownership of phone number
(850) 462-2335. TextNow, Inc. also provided IP logs for recent activity associated
with the username “drewhunchie” for April 2020 and May 2020 that reflected the
same two IP addresses being used — 184.102.14.253 and 71.209.94.161.

TextNow, Inc. also provided call and message logs for phone number (850)
462-2335 which revealed at least one call to Kiku Japanese Fusion in Tallahassee,
FL. TextNow, Inc. also provided call logs that reflected phone number (850) 462-
2335 also made calls to TD Bank.

On May 13, 2020, agents went to Kiku Japanese Fusion in Tallahassee. An
employee there provided a copy of an order invoice dated April 30, 2020 for a

customer whose initials were “A.C.” with a phone number of (850) 462-2335. The
3

- Case 4:21-cr-00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 4 of 11

order was paid for using a debit/credit card ending in 1419 (belonging to Co-
Defendant Catala) with a billing ZIP code of 34953 (associated with the Port St.
Lucie, FL area). |

CenturyLink records indicated that IP addresses 184.102.14.253 and
71.209.94.161 were assigned to a subscriber whose billing name is “Villa Del
Lago” with a service address of 2700 West Pensacola Street, Unit 1223,
Tallahassee, FL (which is now known as “The Social 2700 Student Spaces”
apartment complex) since July, 26, 2010. The Social 2700 used to be known as
“Villa Del Lago.”

Co-Defendant Ramirez, Defendant Charmant, and Co-Defendant Catala are
all friends and graduates of (St. Lucie West) Centennial High School in Port St.
Lucie, FL, and that Catala was a frequent guest of Ramirez’ at 2700 West
Pensacola Street, Apartment 1223, Tallahassee, FL 32304. Ramirez and Catala
were involved in a credit card scam since August 2019, and Catala, using his
laptop, searched the “Dark Web” to obtain unknown persons’ personally
identifiable information (“PII”) at the apartment in Tallahassee as part of the credit
card scam.

Further investigation revealed a scheme to defraud multiple U.S. bank
customers using Zelle, fraudulent account applications, and through fraudulent use

of debit card numbers to make purchases. These customers banked with Austin
4

Case 4:21-cr-00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 5of11

Telco Credit Union, Bank of America, Bank of Hawaii, BB&T, Discover Bank,
Frist Republic Bank, GBC International Bank, Innovations Federal Credit Union
(headquartered in Panama City, FL), JPMorgan Chase, TD Bank, and UMB Bank
— all were federally insured at all times relevant to this investigation. The
defendants used Zelle to transfer funds from victim accounts (with financial
institutions located nationwide) into the accounts of the defendants.

On May 18, 2020, a search warrant was obtained from Southern District of
Florida Magistrate Judge Shaniek M. Maynard (case number 20-040-SMM)
authorizing a search of Defendant Charmant’s parent’s residence in Port St. Lucie,
FL, for items of evidence, including documents and electronic devices. During
that search, Defendant Charmant’s blue iPhone was located and seized, and a
digital forensic examination was performed on it. In particular, a conversation
between Defendant Charmant and Co-Defendant Catala using the Telegram
messaging application was discovered. The conversations between Defendant
Charmant and Co-Defendant Catala included the sharing of personal identification
information (names, dates of birth, addresses) and photos of identification
documents, and credit/debit card numbers (including expiration dates,
CVVs/security codes, and billing ZIP codes), and photographs of such access

devices. Further, the coordination of fraud activity in Florida and nationwide, and

Case 4:21-cr-00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 6 of 11

the sharing of fraud proceeds were discussed by Defendant Charmant and Co-
Defendant Catala using the Telegram app.

Specifically, on April 15, 2020 around 1:31 AM, Co-Defendant Catala sent a.
Telegram message to Defendant Charmant that asks “Your head ready for the
zelle/chimenplay” to which Defendant Charmant replied “Duhh.” Co-Defendant
Catala then sent a message that read “Sending info now” followed by the name,
address, First Republic Bank debit card number, expiration date, and CVV/security
code of E.G., who was a resident of Connecticut (and who Defendant Charmant
knew to be a real person). In response, Defendant Charmant sent a message back
that read “Send other info for the piece.” During the execution of the search
warrant at 2700 West Pensacola Street, Unit 1223, Tallahassee, FL (issued by
Magistrate Judge Martin Fitzpatrick on May 15, 2020 in case #4:20mj125-MAF),
agents located a takeout bag from O.G. Subs to which a sales receipt was attached.
The receipt was dated April 18, 2020, and reflected the customer name, “E.G.,”
and phone number (727) 317-1564. This phone number was determined to belong
to TextNow, Inc. and records revealed that this particular phone number was
assigned to the “drewhunchie” account on or between April 6, 2020, and April 22,
2020. Records from First Republic Bank for E.G.’s account show the fraudulent

charge at O.G. Subs and E.G.’s subsequent dispute thereof.

Case 4:21-cr-O00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 7 of 11

Also, on April 15, 2020, at 6:16 PM, Defendant Charmant sent a Telegram
message to Co-Defendant Catala that read “I need the other piece so I can work m
[right now] to which Co-Defendant Catala replied “Waiting on Site.” About thirty
minutes later, Co-Defendant Catala sent a message to Defendant Charmant that
contained the name, address, First Republic Bank debit card number, expiration
date, and CVV/security code of P.F., who was a resident of New York (and who
Defendant Charmant knew to be a real person). In response, Defendant Charmant
replied “appreciate that kid” and a screenshot of a web form for Zelle in which the
address of P.F. was typed into the fields. Records from First Republic Bank for
P.F.’s account show several fraudulent charges totaling $645.02 which P.F.
disputed.

Further, in the early morning hours on April 21, 2020, Co-Defendant Catala
sent a Telegram message to Defendant Charmant that contained the name, address,
Pacific Premier Bank debit card number, expiration date, and CVV/security code
of D.C., who was a resident of California (who and Defendant Charmant knew to
be a real person). Co-Defendant Catala then said “‘break me off [o]f it” to which
Defendant Charmant replied “I gotchu.” Co-Defendant Catala also directed
Defendant Charmant to “[o]nly send [$]250.” Later that day, Co-Defendant Catala
sent a photo of a food delivery order confirmation from O.G. Subs addressed to

[D.C.’s first name] to Defendant Charmant. Records from Pacific Premier Bank
7

Case 4:21-cr-00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 8 of 11

for D.C.’s account reflect the fraudulent charge at O.G. Subs and D.C.’s
subsequent dispute thereof.

Further, on April 27, 2020, around 4:16 PM, Co-Defendant Catala sent a
Telegram message to Defendant Charmant that read “I ready You Ready?” to
which Defendant Charmant replied “Hell yeah Yessssssirrr.” In response, Co-
Defendant Catala sent a message to Defendant Charmant that contained the name,
address, email address, First Republic Bank debit card number, expiration date,
and CVV/security code of A.C., who was a resident of Arizona (and who
Defendant Charmant knew to be a real person). In response, Defendant Charmant
replied “Appreciate that fam Ima get right rn [right now].” Defendant Charmant
also asked Co-Defendant Catala to “Send me that number so I can send bread
[money] [to Co-Defendant Catala via Zelle] too.” As noted above, A.C.’s name
was used on the food order at Kiku Japanese in Tallahassee, Florida on April 30,
2020. Records from First Republic Bank for A.C.’s account show several
fraudulent charges on the account and A.C.’s subsequent dispute.

As part of his involvement in the conspiracy and the scheme to defraud, the

Defendant obtained or attempted to obtain more than $6,500 but less than $15,000.

Case 4:21-cr-O00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 9 of 11

ELEMENTS OF THE OFFENSE
i. Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud — 18 U.S.C. § 1349
Elements to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt:

1) two or more persons, in some way or manner, agreed to try to accomplish
a common and unlawful plan to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, as

charged in the indictment; and

2) the Defendant knew the unlawful purpose of the plan and willfully joined
in it;

Adapted from 1\th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions § 054.
ii. Bank Fraud - 18 U.S.C. § 1344
Elements to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt:

1) the Defendant knowingly carried out or attempted to carry out a scheme
to defraud a financial institution or to get money, assets, or other property
from a financial institution by using false or fraudulent pretenses,
representations, or promises about a material fact;

2) the false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises were
material;

3) the Defendant intended to defraud the financial institution or someone;
and

4) the financial institution was federally insured.
11th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions § O52.
iii, Fraud involving identification documents — 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)

Elements to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt:
9

Case 4:21-cr-O0036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 10 of11

1) The defendant knowingly transferred, possessed, or used a means of
identification of another person; and

2) The defendant knew that the means of identification belonged to another
person; and

3) The defendant acted with the intent to commit, to aid or abet, and in
connection with any activity that violates federal law; and

4) The defendant acted without lawful authority; and

5) The transfer, possession, or use of the means of identification occurred in
or affected interstate or foreign commerce.

7th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions § 1028(a)(7) (2020 ed.)
iv. Aggravated Identity Theft — 18 U.S.C. § 1028A
Elements to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt:

(1) The Defendant knowingly transferred, possessed, or used another person’s
means of identification;

(2) The Defendant did so without lawful authority’;

(3)The Defendant knew the means of identification belonged to an actual
person?, and

(4) The Defendant did so in relation to bank fraud.

11th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions § 040.3.

' In United States v. Zitron, 810 F.3d 1253, 1260 (11th Cir. 2016) (per curiam), the
Eleventh Circuit found that the defendant used the victim’s identity “without lawful authority” in
two ways: (1) the defendant did not have permission to use the victim’s identity, and (2) the
defendant used the victim’s means of identification for an unlawful purpose. See also United
States v. Joseph, 567 F. App’x 844, 848 (11th Cir. 2014) (per curiam) (unpublished).

2 Does not appear in the 1 1th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions.
10

Case 4:21-cr-O00036-AW-MAF Document 68 Filed 11/18/21 Page 11 of11

JASON OODY
Actifg Unijed States Attorney

Zfil— lgZ_

Eric Milles Hustin YW Keen

Attorney for Defendant Florida Bar No. 021034
Assistant United States Attorney
/l [4 lz / Northern District of Florida

Date 111 North Adams Street, 4" Floor

Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-942-8430
Clonet Junior Charmant Justin.Keen@usdoj.gov

Defendant
lel 2] Wie __

Date ate

11

File and source

File

gov.uscourts.flnd.384421.68.0.pdf

Size

493,944 bytes

SHA-256

ee6195eceff09cb67ee39860e9433a5d5d73dfa4d84ce667e30c06ff91980662

Our copy

gov.uscourts.flnd.384421.68.0.pdf

Original

archive.org