CROWN HEIGHTS, N.Y.–A 28-year-old man here has been charged in Brooklyn Supreme Court with stealing the identities of 178 people in an attempt to rob Pentagon Federal Credit Union of more than $1 million.
The 229-count indictment against Joseph Batrony, Jr.’s alleges grand larceny, scheming to defraud, identity theft, falsifying business records, money laundering and unlawful possession of personal identification.
According to prosecutors, from September 2017 through May 2018, Batrony used stolen personal information from the 178 individuals to open accounts and apply for loans and credit cards in their names before transferring the money to his own accounts or others associated with him. He exclusively used Pentagon Federal Credit Union, prosecutors said.
“In his eagerness to enrich himself, this defendant allegedly had no regard for the impact he could have on financial institutions or the victims whose credit he jeopardized and whose privacy he exploited,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, whose office assisted in the investigation along with the Secret Service, told the Brooklyn Eagle.
Co-Defendant Charged
Prosecutors said Batrony stole the identities primarily from western states whose personal information was leaked in corporate data breaches, using the information to gain access to the alleged victims’ names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers.
A co-defendant, Darrell Walker, a 27-year-old from Flatbush, was also arraigned on related charges. His 26-count indictment included grand larceny, money laundering and criminal facilitation, the Brooklyn Eagle reported.
Walker allegedly helped Batrony by helping him to recruit “money mules,” or people who would allow the defendants to transfer money into their accounts in exchange for payment.
Prosecutors allege Batrony filled out hundreds of online applications and then transferred the money to accounts in his own name, that of the alias “Aaron Green,” or into accounts of relatives and other “money mules.” The credit union reported Batrony to the Secret Service on Oct. 31, 2017 and blocked the remaining transfers, according to the report.