24 From 7 New Jersey Towns Busted In Large, International Fraud Ring: Prosecutor

Twenty-four New Jersey people have been charged with participating in a large-scale international bank fraud ring that operated a million-dollar scheme to steal from banks and corporations, authorities said. 

Bails for the defendants ranged from $50,000 to $250,000.

The arrests were part of an on-going investigation  in what began as a routine traffic stop, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Deputy Chief Lawrence Cattano of the Perth Amboy Police Department. 

During the investigation, it was determined that the motorist was part of the bank fraud ring that engaged in the intricate international financial scam, according to an MCPO release.

Carlos Alcantara, 26, of South Amboy, and numerous associates created companies for the sole purpose of duping unwitting companies and individuals to wire significant sums of money to newly-established, but fraudulent corporate bank accounts, according to the MCPO.

Under the scheme, money would be quickly withdrawn and/or wired overseas before the victims or the banks transmitting the wire transfers learned of the compromised and fraudulent wires, according to the MCPO.

In several instances, the initial compromises occurred via hacked e-mail accounts. The investigation further determined that Alcantara and his associates had fraudulently obtained over $1 million in U.S. currency and fraudulently wired more than $8 million from victims’ accounts, according to the MCPO.

The defendants have been charged with money laundering, conspiracy, and theft.

In addition to Alcantara, those charged have been identified as

• Mohamed A. Hadgiev, 38, of Carteret
• Edgar Lara-Mercedes, 27, of Edison
• Jessica Smith, 28, of Woodbridge
• Kenneth McCarthy, 43, of Newark
• Jamel Lark, 38, of South Plainfield
• Cynthia Weaver, 33, of South Plainfield
• Eddie Perry, 46, of Spotswood
• Kim Gormley, 41, of Spotswood
• Joseph Rawlins, 46, of Woodbridge
• Steven Tunnell, 58, of Woodbridge 
• Glenn W. Yourstone Jr., 42, of Woodbridge.
• Quron Nickerson, 28, of Perth Amboy
• Philip Maxwell, 29, of Perth Amboy
• Erick Rodriguez, 54, of Perth Amboy 
• Christopher Martinez, 26, of Perth Amboy
• Chaz Uriah Sullivan, 25, of Perth Amboy
• William B. Wright Sr., 49, of Perth Amboy
• Lina Wright-Cruz, 32, of Perth Amboy
• Marshall Gordon, 46, of Perth Amboy
• Aaron A. Jackson Sr., 65, of Perth Amboy
• Reynaldo Ramirez, 34, of Perth Amboy
• Akini Joseph, 31, of Perth Amboy
• Karen Brimage, 36, of Perth Amboy.

The individuals were charged on Tuesday during an investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the New Jersey Division of Taxation, the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department and municipal police departments in Carteret, Edison, Linden, Perth Amboy, South Amboy South Plainfield, Spotswood and Woodbridge.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ryan Tighe of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3300.