Fourteen People Charged with Scheming to Defraud Banks and Individuals with Counterfeit CARES Act Stimulus Checks
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey of Friday, October 23, 2020. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced that fourteen people were charged in connection with counterfeit economic stimulus checks purportedly issued by the Treasury Department under the CARES Act, used to defraud banks and individuals. The release lists those charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, with their ages and residences, beginning with Justin Ezeiruaku, 23, of Berlin, New Jersey.
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You are here Justice News Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 23, 2020 Fourteen People Charged with Scheming to Defraud Banks and Individuals with Counterfeit CARES Act Stimulus Checks NEWARK, N.J. – Fourteen people have been charged with scheming to defraud banks and individuals with counterfeit economic stimulus checks purportedly issued by the Treasury Department pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. Charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit bank fraud are: Defendant | Age | Residence Justin Ezeiruaku | 23 | Berlin, New Jersey Torri Pedro | 24 | Sicklerville, New Jersey *Akume Ehoggi | 25 | Glassboro, New Jersey Kassan Knight | 23 | Newark Nakirah Matthews | 21 | Paulsboro, New Jersey *Qwan Taylor | 22 | Pennsauken, New Jersey *Kwaeson Watts | 24 | Lindenwold, New Jersey *Nasir Johnson | 23 | Newark *Daeson Monroe | 25 | Philadelphia Daron Curry | 24 | Westville, New Jersey Talib Crump | 26 | Philadelphia *Noah Brent-Magri | 21 | Somerset, New Jersey Isaiah White | 23 | Virginia Beach, Virginia Ali Shoultz | 23 | Clementon, New Jersey *denotes at-large Knight, Pedro, Shoultz, Matthews and Curry made their initial appearances Oct. 22, 2020, by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio. Ezeiruako will make his appearance on Oct. 26, 2020. Crump is in custody in Philadelphia. White was arrested in Virginia and will have an initial appearance at a date to be determined. According to documents filed in this case: U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) postal inspectors and special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), uncovered a nationwide scheme involving counterfeit economic stimulus checks deposited into bank accounts with the intent to defraud the banks. A network of individuals posted advertisements on Instagram and Snapchat offering people the ability to make “quick cash” if they banked at certain institutions. Some members of the conspiracy acquired individuals’ banking information using a ruse, while others printed the counterfeit stimulus checks that they deposited into the accounts. Members of the conspiracy used ATM machines, and peer-to-peer bank transfers, as well as debit cards, to make large purchases and large cash withdrawals. Individuals financed purchases of luxury cars and paid for their apartments with the stolen funds. In many cases, the individuals whose accounts were compromised suffered financial losses and credit problems, while others were complicit in the fraud. The count of bank fraud conspiracy is punishable by a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited inspectors with the USPIS Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, and Eastern Area, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Kenneth Cleevely; special agents of HSI, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina in Newark; special agents of HSI, Norfolk, Virginia, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Raymond Villanueva, in Washington, D.C.; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Montanez in Newark; the U.S. Marshals Service, District of New Jersey, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos; the office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay; the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, under the direction of Attorney General Josh Shapiro; the Glassboro Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Polillo; the Winslow Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief George M. Smith; the Gloucester Township Police Department, Special Investigations Unit, under the direction of Chief David J. Harkins; the Pennsauken Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jon Nettleton; the Paulsboro Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gary Kille; the Lindenwold Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael McCarthy; the West Whiteland Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Lee Benson; the Pennsylvania State Police, under the direction of Capt. James Kemm; the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Gaming Enforcement, under the direction of Lt. Kevin Conrad; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisa Shver of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Attachment(s): Download Ezeiruaku.Complaint.pdf Download Curry.Complaint.pdf Download Knight.Complaint.pdf Download Pedro.Complaint.pdf Download Shoultz.Complaint.pdf Topic(s): Coronavirus Financial Fraud Component(s): USAO - New Jersey Press Release Number: 20-380 Updated October 26, 2020
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