Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor announced that four Mercer County men and six of their associated businesses were charged today with first-degree conspiracy and money laundering in connection with a bank scheme involving the deposit of nearly $1.4 million in phony or forged checks related to insurance claims.
Officials say Trenton residents Wayne M. Bessant, Reyshauwn Barlow, Rayshawn Kelly, and Rashon Smith and their associated companies - Hoffman Restoration, LLC; Best Way Restoration, LLC; Wayne Enterprises Since 1981; Fast Cash Investments, LLC; JLaw & Investors, LLC; and Group of LJNMB&W, LLC - were charged in an indictment handed by a state Grand Jury in Trenton today.
The defendants allegedly conspired in a scheme to set up several phony bank accounts in the name of People’s Property Adjusters (“PPA”), a West Deptford company that assists insureds in submitting claims against homeowner insurance policies.
The defendants allegedly used the phony accounts to deposit forged insurance payout checks stolen from PPA, and also to deposit phony PPA checks purportedly made out to defendant-controlled bank accounts. The defendants then used the phony accounts to transport the illicit funds to other bank accounts, official checks, and/or other financial instruments under the control of the four men or companies associated with them, according to the indictment.
The defendants are charged as follows:
Wayne M. Bessant, 38, Trenton. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Misconduct by a Corporate Official (3 counts 2nd degree); Theft by Deception (6 counts 2nd degree; 1 count 3rd degree); Attempted Theft by Deception ( 4 counts 2nd degree, 1 count 3rd degree); Forgery (29 counts 3rd degree).
Reyshauwn D. Barlow, 31, Trenton. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Impersonation of an Organization Representative (2nd degree); Theft by Deception (3 counts 2nd degree); Attempted Theft by Deception (3 counts 2rd degree); Forgery (29 counts 3rd degree).
Rayshawn Kelly, 43, Trenton. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Misconduct by a Corporate Official (3rd degree); Theft by Deception (2 counts 2nd degree); Attempted Theft by Deception (2 counts 2nd degree); Forgery (29 counts 3rd degree).
Rashon Smith, 34, Trenton. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Impersonation of an Organization Representative (2nd degree); Theft by Deception (2nd degree).
Hoffman Restoration, LLC, Trenton, Owned and operated by Wayne Bessant. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Theft by Deception (2nd degree).
Best Way Restoration, LLC, Trenton, Owned and operated by Wayne Bessant. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree).
Wayne Enterprises Since 1981, Trenton, Owned and operated by Wayne Bessant. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree).
Fast Cash Investments, LLC, Trenton, Owned and operated by Rayshawn Kelly. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Theft by Deception (, 2 counts 3rd degree); Attempted Theft by Deception (2 counts 2nd degree).
Group of LJNMB&W, LLC, Hamilton, Owned and operated by Reyshauwn Barlow. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Attempted Theft by Deception (2nd degree).
JLaw & Investors, LLC, Levittown, PA. Conspiracy (1st degree); Money Laundering (2 counts 1st degree); Theft by Deception (3rd degree); Attempted Theft by Deception (3rd degree).
First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $200,000; second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000; and third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $15,000.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.