SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – On Thursday, April 25, U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown announced the indictment of 21 people from Shreveport.
The indictment is part of a large fraud case. A news conference was held Thursday morning at the federal courthouse in downtown Shreveport to announce the indictment.
RELATED STORIES:
- 2 women accused of defrauding veterans of more than $1 million
- Two NELA men convicted for conspiring to commit bank fraud; over $3 million lost
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown, United States Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Felton L. Joseph Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging 21 defendants in connection with a federal bank fraud case. The charges come following an investigation into their illegal activities in the Shreveport area.
Allegedly, from Jan. 1, 2021, and continuing until on or about Oct. 31, defendants Glass, Jackson, Brown, Loud, Gully, Watkins, Green, Deboe, T. Bryant, C. Bryant, T. McGinty, S. McGinty, Larrimore, Lejay, Mitchell, Barfield, Taylor, Pouncy, Wilbert and Washington-Bates, and others knowingly conspired to commit bank fraud. It is alleged that the defendants fraudulently stole money from the financial institutions of USAA Savings Bank (USAA Bank), Chase Bank, and Navy Federal Credit Union (Navy Federal).
Reportedly Glass, Jackson, Brown, and Loud worked with one or more employees of the call center Teleperformance in Shreveport, to obtain account information related to USAA Bank customers. The indictment alleges that Teleperformance employees Gully, Green, and Watkins, illegally provided account information targeting older bank customers with high account balances. Older customers were targeted due to their belief they were less likely to regularly monitor their accounts. Using the account information provided, the co-conspirators made counterfeit checks drawn on USAA Bank and used social media along with other methods to recruit people willing to have the checks deposited into their bank accounts in exchange for money.
Indictments:
- Destane Glass, 22, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Sharmaine Jackson, 25, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Elijah D. Brown, 24, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Eric D. Loud, 23, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Arazhia R. Gully, 23, Bossier City, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Zarrajah Z. Watkins, 22, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Maya L. Green, 23, Bossier City, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud • Possession of a Counterfeit Security
- Olivia Deboe, 23, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud • Possession of a Counterfeit Security Page 2 of 6
- Tina Marie Bryant, 42, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud • Possession of a Counterfeit Security
- Cynthia R. Bryant, 22, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud • Possession of a Counterfeit Security
- Trameka McGinty, 24, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Shaquentalas B. McGinty, 25, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Donte N. Larrimore, 24, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Javonte J. Lejay, 27, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Octavia L. Mitchell, 32, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Lakysa S. Barfield, 26, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Shmarrian J. Taylor, 26, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Shamaya S. Pouncy, 26, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Precious Wilbert, 24, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud • Possession of a Counterfeit Security
- Kyra D. Washington-Bates, 23, Shreveport, LA – Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Rakeydra S. Shepherd, 27, Shreveport, LA – Possession of a Counterfeit Security
The indictment further alleges that Deboe, T. Bryant, C. Bryant, T. McGinty, S. McGinty, Larrimore, Lejay, Mitchell, Barfield, Taylor, Pouncy, Wilbert, and Washington-Bates used their bank accounts or allowed their accounts to be used to negotiate USAA counterfeit checks and shared the proceeds with the other co-conspirators.
See the record of the text messages that were sent through a social media site regarding the deposits and counterfeit checks in the full press release>>
The defendants will make an initial appearance in federal court on their charges.
“The banking system is clearly one of the driving forces behind national, state, and local economy in every community across the United States and is critical in consumer transactions on a daily basis,” said United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “In these trying economic times, this office is committed to prosecuting those who use national and local banks to defraud other banks, businesses, consumers, and bank customers.”
“This case should serve as a strong deterrent for criminal actors considering taking part in similar fraud schemes,” said Resident Agent in Charge Felton L. Joseph, Jr. “The U.S. Secret Service and its law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and pursue prosecution of these alleged crimes in order to safeguard our communities.”
“For months criminals took advantage of a company that serves our veterans, and preyed upon its customers,” said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the New Orleans Field Office. “This indictment is the first step in holding those who stole from those who have honored our country with their service, accountable for their despicable actions. The FBI thanks its partners in this case in helping to bring this corruption to light.”
Copyright 2024 KSLA. All rights reserved.
