HARRISBURG, PA — Twenty-seven people are facing a sweeping array of charges after state investigators uncovered what they describe as a multi-million-dollar criminal enterprise that used stolen customer information to siphon funds from banks and financial institutions across central Pennsylvania.
Attorney General Dave Sunday and the Pennsylvania State Police announced the charges Thursday, saying the operation defrauded victims in Cumberland and Dauphin counties by posing as bank personnel to obtain sensitive account details. Investigators allege that once the information was secured, members of the organization performed unauthorized withdrawals and transfers totaling approximately $2.3 million.
Among those charged are eight individuals identified as alleged leaders of the scheme: Michael Lopez, Ojibway Warta, Gabriel Wilson, Ayden Rosario, Zyaire Monserrat, Devon James, Lavon Whittaker, and Isiah Green. They face felony counts of corrupt organizations, access device fraud, theft, and related offenses. Nineteen additional defendants are charged with similar crimes.
According to authorities, members of the organization contacted victims under the guise of fraud-prevention specialists or bank representatives, convincing them to provide login credentials, passwords, and other personal information. Once the victims were locked out of their accounts, investigators say, the group carried out unauthorized transfers into accounts controlled by the organization.
Attorney General Sunday credited the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and financial institutions, adding that this case marks the third multi-million-dollar bank fraud scheme dismantled recently by the Financial Crimes Section. Capt. James A. Reinard of the Pennsylvania State Police said the scheme “exploited the trust of our communities” and emphasized that combating complex financial crimes remains a priority.
Those charged and currently in custody include Lopez, Warta, Wilson, Rosario, Monserrat, James, Whittaker, Green, Nassah Wright, Tyquan Butler-Stern, Sincere Ussery, Dysaun Hickey, Rilwan Akesode, Ellis Wallace, Kelyn Thomas, Johnathan Ramos, Dorien Ervin, Honisty Brown, Monet Santana, Ivan Valera, and Tyler Hunter.
Charged but not in custody are Elison Onufer, Jnaesha Totton, Kapree Wells, Daeshaun Blanding, Emerson Minnich, and Myklin Jones.
The Dauphin County Crisis Response Team, the Dauphin County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Harrisburg Police Department assisted in this week’s arrests.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Kayla Bolan will prosecute the cases.
All charges are allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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