Investigations into regional criminal scams across the state involving the fraudulent use of debit cards to make unauthorized cash withdrawals at Santander Bank ATMs led to the arrest of more than two dozen people in Monmouth County on Tuesday, August 18, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
The thieves were able to exploit a glitch in Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) belonging to Santander Banks, allowing them to use prepaid debit cards to make continuous withdrawals of cash from the ATMs.
The prepaid debit cards, like the Green Dot cards used by other scammers involved in telephone schemes, can be purchased at most retail stores. The bank was alerted to higher-than-usual ATM withdrawals and eventually closed down its ATM locations.
Santander Bank has subsequently corrected the glitch in their ATM machines.
“This is a great example of inter-agency cooperation and how it works to everyone’s benefit," Prosecutor Gramiccioni said. "These local police departments received the information about this growing scam from state and federal authorities and they kept a watchful eye that resulted in arrests. Everyone involved did an outstanding job."
The following arrests were made:
By Englishtown Police Department:
- Cesar Armando Ortiz, Jr., 25, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Criminal Attempt – Theft by an Unlawful Taking; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Asaun Stone, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Criminal Attempt –Theft by an Unlawful Taking; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- David Gorin Redding, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Criminal Attempt –Theft by an Unlawful Taking; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Noel Machado, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Criminal Attempt –Theft by an Unlawful Taking; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Denzel I. Gravenhise, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Criminal Attempt –Theft by an Unlawful Taking; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Teru J. Pratt, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Criminal Attempt –Theft by an Unlawful Taking; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Gregory M. Harrington, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Criminal Attempt –Theft by an Unlawful Taking; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
By Freehold Township Police Department:
- Damon C Joseph, 23, of The Bronx, New York, is charged with third-degree Theft, fourth-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and fourth-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute.
- Quran E Martin, 25, of East Harlem, New York, is charged with third-degree Theft, fourth-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and fourth-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute.
By Holmdel Township Police Department:
- Derrick Jackson, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with third-degree Criminal Attempt – Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.
By Little Silver Police Department:
- Robert F. Aiello, 55, of Mountain Lakes, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft, third-degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, third-degree Conspiracy – Theft by Unlawful Taking, third-degree Receiving Stolen Property, Theft of United States Currency, and a disorderly persons offense of Possession of Less than 50 mg of Marijuana.
- Raim A Duplessis, 23, of Newark, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft and fourth degree Conspiracy to Commit Credit Card Theft.
- Zamir Zhaire Knox, 21, of Union, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft, third-degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, third-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, two counts of third-degree Receiving Stolen Property; and fourth-degree Obstruction.
- Giovanni Neville Tyrell, 24, of Teaneck, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft, third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Credit Card Theft and a disorderly persons offense of Possession of Less than 50 mg of Marijuana.
- Martin J. Rosendary, 24, of Union, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft, third-degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, third-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, and fourth-degree Obstruction.
- Briana Aviles, 22, of Newark, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft, third-degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, third-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking, third-degree Receiving Stolen Property; and a disorderly persons offense of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana.
- Markeem Louise Jackson, 36, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft, third-degree Receiving Stolen Property; and disorderly persons offenses of Possession of Less than 50 grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
- Wayne Hill, 22, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with fourth-degree Credit Card Theft, and third-degree Conspiracy – Theft by an Unlawful Taking.
By Marlboro Township Police Department:
Marlboro police officers observed individuals loitering in a lobby of the ATM at Santander. The suspects were subsequently detained during a traffic stop by Old Bridge Police Department, who charged the following individuals:
- Ishmil Q. Harmon, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with third-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking and third-degree Computer Crime to Access with the Purpose to Defraud.
- Devaim K. Fulmore, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with third-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking and third-degree Computer Crime to Access with the Purpose to Defraud.
- Shyiem L. McLean, 22, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with third-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking and third degree Computer Crime to Access with the Purpose to Defraud.
- Charles E. Sprowal Jr., 22, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with third degree Theft by Unlawful Taking and third degree Computer Crime to Access with the Purpose to Defraud.
By Wall Township Police Department:
- Anthony J. Kelly, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of third degree theft by unlawful taking and possession of marijuana under 50 grams, a disorderly persons offense.
- Clifton Davis, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of third degree theft by unlawful taking, one count of third-degree possession of oxycodone and possession of marijuana under 50 grams, a disorderly persons offense.
- Barrington L. Wright, 25, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of third-degree theft by unlawful taking and possession of marijuana under 50 grams, a disorderly persons offense.
- Sean Bennett, 22, of Chester, New York, is charged with one count of fourth-degree theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
- Robert J. Glisson Jr., 24, of The Bronx, New York, is charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
- Timothy Gonzalez, 26, of The Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of fourth degree theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
- Quenton L. Price, 24, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is charged with one count of fourth degree theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
- Tyrell T. Mingo, 24, of Teaneck, is charged with one count of third-degree theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses. Mingo is being held the Monmouth County Correctional Institution and pending a future court date.
- Leroy C. Woods-Williams, 24, of Hackensack, is charged with one count of third-degree theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses. Woods-Williams is being held the Monmouth County Correctional Institution and pending a future court date.
If convicted of a third degree crime, each defendant faces a sentence of three to five years in a New Jersey State Prison.
If convicted of a fourth degree offense, each defendant faces up to 18 months in a New Jersey State Prison.