Greenbelt, MD – A brazen scheme to steal over $8.7 million from at least eleven victims has landed five Maryland men in federal custody, according to an indictment unsealed this week. The group allegedly hacked into email accounts and manipulated wiring instructions, funneling funds into accounts they controlled before quickly dispersing the stolen cash.
The indictment, returned on October 26, 2017, names Aldrin Fon Fomukong, a/k/a “Albanky,” a/k/a “A.L.,” 24, of Greenbelt, Maryland; Nnkeng Amin, a/k/a “Rapone,” a/k/a “Arnold,” 30, of Beltsville, Maryland; Yanick Eyong, 26, of Bowie, Maryland; Ishmail Ganda, a/k/a “Banker TD,” 31, of College Park, Maryland; and Izou Ere Digifa, a/k/a “Lzuo Digifa,” a/k/a “Mimi VA,” 22, of Lynchburg, Virginia. The operation ran from February 2016 until roughly July 2017, preying on businesses and individuals through email compromise.
Prosecutors allege the quintet didn’t just stop at receiving the fraudulently wired funds. They then moved the money through a complex web of transactions, including wire transfers to other accounts, internal bank transfers, cash withdrawals, cashier’s checks, and payments to other individuals and entities – all designed to obscure the trail and avoid detection. The sheer scale of the fraud – exceeding $8.7 million – suggests a highly organized and sophisticated criminal enterprise.
Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning, speaking alongside officials from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Secret Service, confirmed the arrests. “This indictment represents a significant blow to a network of criminals who exploited trust and technology to steal millions,” Schenning stated. Special Agent in Charge Andrew Watson of HSI and Special Agent in Charge Brian Ebert of the Secret Service lauded the collaborative investigation.
Fomukong, Amin, Eyong, and Digifa are currently being held without bail. Ganda has been released under pretrial supervision. If convicted, Fomukong and Amin each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. All five defendants face up to 20 years behind bars if found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation, and these men are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O’Connell Hayes is leading the prosecution. The case highlights the increasing threat of business email compromise (BEC) and the ongoing battle federal agencies face in tracking down and dismantling these types of sophisticated financial crime rings. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves through the legal system.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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