DA VANCE AND COMMISSIONER BRATTON ANNOUNCE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 39-MEMBER FRAUDULENT SHOPPING RING

 

Defendants Spent Thousands at Barneys and Other Retailers Using Credit Cards Created with Stolen Information

 

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton today announced the indictment of 39 individuals in connection with a credit card fraud and larceny scheme that compromised the information of dozens of victims and resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in retail shopping fraud. The defendants are charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with crimes including Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, among other charges. Several of the defendants are also charged with related crimes in additional indictments filed in New York State Supreme Court. [1]

“As alleged in the indictments, the defendants went on a series of shopping sprees paid for by their victims, many of whom may have been unaware that their information was stolen until fraudulent charges appeared on their credit card statements,” said District Attorney Vance. “Using stolen personal information purchased online and forged credits cards, the defendants’ alleged conduct contributed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in theft and fraud—an amount that was only amplified by the number of participants in the scheme and the frequency of the alleged crimes. In at least one case, an individual is accused of making nearly twenty trips to the same luxury department store to buy designer clothes and merchandise.”

“As alleged, the members of this identity theft ring exploited stolen personal information to manufacture fake credit cards. With the forged instruments, the defendants shopped in Manhattan’s most high end retail stores, all on someone else’s dime. Today, the defendants find themselves under arrest thanks to the hard work of the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney”, said Police Commissioner William J. Bratton.  

According to the indictments and documents filed in court, between May 2015 and April 2016, the defendants obtained stolen credit card information and used forged credit cards to purchase designer clothes and luxury goods valued at thousands of dollars during a series of shopping trips at major Manhattan-based department stores and retailers.

As part of the scheme, some of the defendants are charged with obtaining victims’ credit card account numbers and providing the stolen information to various co-defendants. The defendants who sent and received stolen credit card information—typically by email—include: LUTHER EDWARDS, 22, AKIEL JOSEPH, 21, NIKELYAN LEWIS, 20, ANTHONY MCKOY, 20, JUWUAN MILEY, 30, KHALIL PARKS, 19, SHARIF PERSON, 20,  JAMES SALLY, 31, TRISTON STUART, 27, WILLIAM TOWNSEND, 22, and KAISHAUN TRISVAN, 21.

Additional defendants are charged with obtaining forged credits cards created with the stolen account information and thereafter using the cards to purchase clothing and products at Barneys New York and other major stores and retailers. Individuals who possessed and used the forged credit cards include: ROBBIE BLACK, 22, CHARLES BRELAND, 21, KARISMA BUTLER, 19, TYQUAN COLEY, 22, TOMEIK DARNES, 25, LARRY DATHAN, 33, ANTHONY DORSETTE, 20, KEVIN EDWARD, 19, LUTHER EDWARDS, 22, COURTNEY FORSTER, 21, DAVID FRIEDSON, 19, STEPHEN FRYE, 29, JOSEPH, SHAKIMA JOSEPH, 23, KAAMAR LABREW, 29, KEYON LANG, 20, LEWIS, JAMAL MAYS, 21, MCKOY, MILEY, SHYHEIM MOORE, 19, ABRAM OJOFETIMI, 20, DESHAWN PARKER, 21, PARKS, PERSON, SALLY, STUART, ALEXIA SYKES, 19, MALACHAI SYLVAN, 16, MARCUS TAYLOR, 18, DYMOND THOMAS, 19, TRISVAN, SHATIQUA WATSON, 23, JANILE WHITTED, 22, ANTHONY WIGGINS, 24, JEFFEREY WILLIAMS, 24, DOMINIQUE WILSON, 25, and JEVON WILSON, 34.

A number of the defendants are accused of repeatedly returning to the same store, some making as many as a dozen or more separate trips. At various times, the defendants are also accused of taking on different roles as part of the scheme: in some instances, defendants picked out merchandise and made purchases; in other instances, defendants acted as lookouts or transported property from the store once a successful purchase was made. In total, the defendants are accused of conducting more than 200 fraudulent transactions, resulting in approximately $258,000 in losses to Barneys New York, as well as unsuccessful attempts to purchase $156,000 in goods and merchandise.

Search warrants executed at multiple locations in Brooklyn and Queens associated with some of the indicted defendants revealed possession of equipment used in connection with the manufacturing of forged credit cards, including a card printer, multiple embossers, a tipper, and card re-encoders. In addition, three firearms were also recovered from two of the search warrant locations in Brooklyn.

The indictments and arrests are the culmination of an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Cybercrime and Identity Theft Bureau and the NYPD’s Financial Crimes Task Force, employing extensive analysis of video surveillance, credit card records, and banking activity.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Shull is handling the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Glickman, Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime and Identity Theft Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Brenda Fischer, Chief of the Cybercrime and Identity Theft Bureau, and Executive Assistant District Attorney David Szuchman, Chief of the Investigation Division.

District Attorney Vance thanked the following agencies and individuals for their assistance with the investigation: NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force, and in particular, Detectives Daniel Alessandrino, Mark Rubin, and Daniel Herzog; Barneys New York, and in particular, the Barneys Loss Prevention Unit.

[1] The charges contained in the indictments are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.

Defendant Information:

ROBBIE BLACK, D.O.B. 7/30/1993

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 4 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

CHARLES BRELAND, D.O.B. 8/25/1994

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 8 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 8 counts

KARISMA BUTLER, D.O.B. 11/17/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts

TYQUAN COLEY, D.O.B. 12/14/1993

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 29 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 29 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 15 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 9 counts

TOMEIK DARNES, D.O.B. 11/08/1990

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

LARRY DATHAN, D.O.B. 1/12/1983

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 7 counts

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 10 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 10 counts

ANTHONY DORSETTE, D.O.B. 12/07/1995

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 14 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 9 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 14 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 9 counts, 3 counts

KEVIN EDWARD, D.O.B. 10/24/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 6 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 6 counts

LUTHER EDWARDS, D.O.B. 10/18/1993

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 13 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 13 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 9 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

COURTNEY FORSTER, D.O.B. 8/29/1994

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 18 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 7 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 18 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

DAVID FRIEDSON, D.O.B. 9/24/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 25 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 6 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 25 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 9 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 4 counts

·       Attempted Petit Larceny, a class B misdemeanor, 2 counts

STEPHEN FRYE, D.O.B. 11/14/1986

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts

AKIEL JOSEPH, D.O.B. 2/20/1995

Queens, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 28 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 28 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 7 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 6 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 9 counts

·       Attempted Petit Larceny, a class B misdemeanor, 2 counts

SHAKIMA JOSEPH, D.O.B. 11/10/1992

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts

KAAMAR LABREW, D.O.B. 8/24/1986

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 14 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 14 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 8 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 4 counts

KEYON LANG, D.O.B. 8/05/1995

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 6 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 6 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 4 counts

NIKELYAN LEWIS, D.O.B. 3/09/1995

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 18 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 18 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 7 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 5 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts

JAMAL MAYS, D.O.B. 3/18/1994

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 26 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 4 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 26 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 13 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 7 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 2 counts

ANTHONY MCKOY, D.O.B. 4/24/1995

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

JUWUAN MILEY, D.O.B. 5/21/1995

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 33 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 33 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 17 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 12 counts

SHYHEIM MOORE, D.O.B. 12/03/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 12 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 12 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 8 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts

ABRAM OJOFETIMI, D.O.B. 6/12/1995

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 20 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 16 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

DASHAWN PARKER, D.O.B. 12/23/1994

New York, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 16 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 16 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 9 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 2 counts

KHALIL PARKS, D.O.B. 11/24/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts

SHARIF PERSON, D.O.B. 1/11/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 18 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 5 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 18 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 11 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

JAMES SALLY, D.O.B. 6/16/1984

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 7 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 7 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

TRISTON STUART, D.O.B. 9/21/1988

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

ALEXIA SYKES, D.O.B. 12/12/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 9 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 9 counts

·       Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 6 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts

MALACHI SYLVAN, D.O.B. 9/07/1999

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 14 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 14 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 9 counts

MARCUS TAYLOR, D.O.B. 11/18/1997

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count

DYMOND THOMAS, D.O.B. 11/14/1996

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 4 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts

WILLIAM TOWNSEND, D.O.B. 4/30/1993

Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

·       Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count

·       Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 15 counts

·       Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 2 counts

·       Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 15 counts

·       Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 1 count

·       Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 8 counts