ALBANY, NEW YORK – Victor Barriera, age 63, of the Bronx, New York, Jerjuan Joyner, age 49, of Brooklyn, New York, Akeem Balogun, age 53, of Brooklyn, and Lesley Lucchese, age 53, of Brooklyn, have been arrested on an indictment charging a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted credit unions all over the country starting in December 2021. All eight defendants have now been arraigned on the indictment.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
According to the indictment, court filings, and statements made by prosecutors in court, beginning in at least December 2021, Oluwaseun Adekoya, a/k/a “John Calling,” age 38, a Nigerian citizen residing in Newark, New Jersey, and David Daniyan, a/k/a “Bamikole Laniyan,” a/k/a “David Enfield,” a/k/a “Tajudeen Dosunmu,” a/k/a “David James,” a/k/a “Tony James,” a/k/a “James Bush,” age 59, a Nigerian citizen residing in Brooklyn, obtained the personal identifying information of scores of individuals who banked at credit unions throughout the United States.
The credit unions were members of a shared branching network, which allowed customers of member credit unions to withdraw funds from their accounts at other member credit unions by presenting an identification with their photograph, their account number, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. The network was designed to allow customers of localized credit unions easier access to their accounts when traveling throughout the country. However, according to the indictment, the defendants exploited this network by creating fake identifications in the names of real credit union customers, but with photographs of other individuals, whom they employed to conduct fraudulent transactions at shared branch member credit unions all over the country. In total, the indictment charges the eight defendants with obtaining more than $900,000, which ringleaders allegedly used to purchase luxury items including Rolex watches, Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and high-end clothing and apparel. The fraud was perpetrated in Albany, Clinton, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties in the Northern District of New York, and all over the country.
According to statements made by prosecutors and court filings, authorities have seized over $45,000 in cash proceeds of the conspiracy, and an estimated tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry and merchandise, including Rolex watches, Gucci handbags, and Jimmy Choo shoes – many of which were new in their boxes.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The following defendants are charged in the indictment:
- Adekoya is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;
- Daniyan is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;
- Gaysha Kennedy, age 45, of Brooklyn, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud;
- Danielle Cappetti, age 45, of the Bronx, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;
- Barriera is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;
- Lucchese is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;
- Joyner is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud; and
- Balogun is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Adeyoka, Daniyan, Barriera and Joyner have each been ordered detained pending trial; the other defendants were released with conditions.
The bank fraud conspiracy charges carry a maximum term of 30 years in prison and the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed on the bank fraud charge. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
FBI Albany is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in New York and Newark, and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General; the New York State Police; Cohoes Police Department; Colonie Police Department; Elmira Police Department; Corning Police Department; Plattsburgh Police Department; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire, including the Rochester Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Amherst Police Department; the Norwich, CT Police Department; law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts, including the Springfield, MA Police Department; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Delaware State Police; and law enforcement agencies in Maryland, including the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.
