Rutgers Student From Union Indicted For Credit Card Fraud

UNION, NJ — A Union local was among eight players to be indicted for credit card fraud. The players were also either suspended from or kicked off the Rutgers football team.

The eight Rutgers football players who were indicted are: Kai J. "K.J." Gray, 21, of Union; Brendan R. Devera, 18, of Totowa; Naijee R. Jones, 18, of Erial; Edwin A. Lopez, 19, of Camden; Kwabena Marfo, 21, of Alexandria, Virginia; Christian C. Onyechi, 19, of West Orange; Syhiem Simmons, 20,

All eight players were indicted Dec. 5 by a grand jury in Middlesex County; the Middlesex County prosecutor's office provided Patch with a copy of the indictment.

• See Related: Rutgers Student From Union Charged In Credit Card Scheme

K.J. Gray and Devera were the two players dismissed from the team. The other six were all suspended and there is a chance they could play again next season. Under head coach Chris Ash, Rutgers football just wrapped up an incredibly dismal 1-11 2018 season.

Devera was originally charged as one of the organizers of the credit card fraud scheme, but the most serious charge against him, promoting organized street crime in the second degree, was dropped. Gray, however, is still facing a second-degree charge of promoting organized street crime, which carries a maximum of 10 years in jail if he is found guilty.

The alleged thefts occurred this past spring, prosecutors say. The Middlesex County prosecutor's office says the players used the dark web to obtain credit card numbers and then transferred money to their Rutgers Express debit-card accounts. The transfers were done in small amounts, ranging from $200 to $800 at a time, prosecutors said, according to reports.

In total, $11,450 was stolen from various victims.

Gray, a junior when the alleged thefts occurred and attended St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City. He was the No. 23 ranked recruit in New Jersey by ESPN.

Devera is a former Wayne Hills High School star quarterback. In high school, he helped Wayne Hills win an NJSIAA North Jersey 1 Group 4 title. He was named first team all-state, first team All-Group 4 by The Star-Ledger, and first-team All-Metro by MSG Varsity.

They were both kicked off the team: On Dec. 9 Devera tweeted that he received an offer to play at Arizona State University.

All eight players are scheduled to appear at Middlesex County Superior Court on Jan. 3 before Judge Pedro Jimenez.

According to the indictment, Marfo said he was "trying to help out'' Devera, who "was pressed for money because he had parking tickets." Marfo also allegedly told detectives he used the stolen money to purchase shoes and clothing.

This is not the first scandal for the Rutgers football program: In 2015, up to eight players on the team were charged with assault, robbery and drug dealing. All were kicked off the team and head coach Kyle Flood was fired that same year.

Past Patch reporting on the 2018 Rutgers football credit card fraud scandal:

Several Rutgers Players Face Fake Credit Card Probe: Report

Two Players Kicked Off Rutgers Football Team

Patch staffer Carly Baldwin contributed to this report.

(Image via Rutgers University: K.J. Gray)

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