Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the arrest of six county residents on the charge of theft by deception for allegedly operating a “Check Kiting Ring” in Ocean County.
The term “Check Kiting” is a banking industry label describing the illegal activity of depositing worthless checks then withdrawing cash before the banks can verify that the checks are worthless.
The investigation began in February of 2015, when TD Bank officials reported to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit their suspicions regarding the alleged ring’s activity.
After an extensive investigation, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office developed information that the suspects had allegedly obtained over $10,000.
Earlier this week, the OCPO SIU enlisted the assistance of detectives from the Seaside Heights, Toms River, and Barnegat Police Departments to affect the arrests.
After a briefing at Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office on March 20, the partnering agencies divided into arrest teams. Armed with the required documentation for arrests, the teams departed OCPO-SIU at approximately 5:30 am and went directly to their target locations to affect the arrests.
The six suspects were arrested without incident at their residences, charged with theft by deception and lodged in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of various bail amounts.
Those arrested in the operation are:
MARYLEE JORDAN, 27, of 1040 Route 166, APT.102, Toms River, NJ. SHAVON D. BROWN, 30, of 2404 Adams Ave, Toms River, NJ. QAWI M. BROWN, 26, of 2404 Adams Ave, Toms River, NJ. BONITA WHITE, 47, of 326 Franklin Ave, Seaside Heights, NJ. SHANE MCDONALD, 51, of 234 Franklin Ave, Seaside Heights, NJ. ISAAC T. BROWN JR., 25, of 59 Lexington Blvd, Barnegat, NJ.
All defendants have made bail with the exception of Bonita White pictured above.