Rutgers Student From Union Charged In Credit Card Scheme

UNION, NJ — A Union local was among eight Rutgers University students to be charged for their involvement in a credit card fraud scheme Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced.

Those charged include Kai 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, of Brooklyn, New York; and Malik Vaccaro-Dixon, 21, of Port Charlotte, Florida.

The students were charged with conspiracy to commit theft by deception in the third-degree following an investigation that began this spring by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rutgers University Police Department.

Gray was also charged with promoting organized street crime in the second-degree and money laundering in the third-degree.

Devera was additionally charged with promoting organized street crime in the second-degree, money laundering in the third-degree, and fraudulent use of credit cards in the third-degree.

Jones and Onyechi have also been charged with fraudulent use of credit cards in the third-degree.

In addition, Lopez, Marfo, Simmons, and Vaccaro-Dixon have all been charged with money laundering in the third degree and fraudulent use of credit cards in the third degree.

The investigation determined that between April 22, 2018 and May 3, 2018, the defendants participated in an illegal credit card fraud scheme in which they obtained credit card numbers belonging to others without their consent or authorization, and transferred funds to various RU (Rutgers’s University) Express Accounts for personal use.

Gray is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 11 before Superior Court Judge Michael A. Toto.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sergeant Megan Moschberger of the Rutgers University Police Department at 732-932-7111, or Detective Christopher Van Eerde of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3300.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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