APPLETON, Wis.—Eight people have been charged in connection to a large-scale fraud scheme that defrauded local credit unions out of nearly $200,000, Yahoo News reported.
The following have been charged: Deandre Mackontee, 25, of Allouez; Demetrius King Jr., 26, of Green Bay; Brad Porter, 50, of Oneida; Trivian Walton, 25, of Green Bay; Cornelius Steele, 28, of Bellevue; Stacy Swille, 42, of Green Bay; Dion Crawford, 57, of Milwaukee; and Shayne Rudolph, 51, of Green Bay. Charges range from organizing financial crimes, money laundering and fraud against a financial institution.
The Brown County Sheriff's Office uncovered a large-scale fraud scheme that targeted local credit unions, according to a criminal complaint. Between Oct. 17 and Nov. 19, 2024, multiple members of Fox Communities Credit Union were deceived into providing their online banking credentials to scammers posing as fraud department staff, Yahoo News said.
The complaint states that Fox Communities Credit Union suffered losses totaling $192,195.80 after reimbursing affected members. Community First Credit Union was also hit by the scheme, losing $23,144.45.
Once scammers gained access to members' accounts, they transferred funds to one of 27 individuals identified in the investigation. According to the complaint, the suspects then rapidly withdrew or moved the stolen funds using ATMs, additional transfers, or purchases, as reported by Yahoo News.
Investigators described the scheme as "a coordinated and systematic attack on numerous financial institutions" by "the same criminal enterprise." A large portion of the stolen money was turned over to "leadership within the criminal enterprise," the complaint said.
Mackontee served as a principal local organizer of a criminal enterprise responsible for defrauding credit unions. Mackontee recruited "money mules" and co-conspirators through Facebook. He targeted individuals looking to make quick money and instructed them to open accounts at FCCU, CFCU and Capital Credit Union "for the sole purpose of facilitating fraudulent financial transactions." Mackontee kept a large portion of the stolen money, typically paying the money mules "a small percentage," Yahoo News said.