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Fugitive Found Napping in California, Linked to Million-Dollar Check Fraud
CULVER CITY, CA – Edmilson Rodriques, 20, of Providence, Rhode Island, was apprehended August 19th while sleeping in his vehicle in a Culver City hotel parking lot, bringing him one step closer to facing federal charges in a sophisticated “card cracking” scheme. Police discovered a veritable treasure trove of stolen identities inside the vehicle – driver’s licenses, social security numbers, credit cards, and checks not belonging to Rodriques or his companion. This arrest closes in on a multi-year investigation into a ring that allegedly laundered over a million dollars in bogus checks.
Rodriques is one of seven individuals indicted in April 2019, accused of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. The indictment details a meticulous operation where conspirators allegedly solicited individuals with access to legitimate business and public agency checks, photographing them and sending the images to a counterfeiter. The counterfeit checks were then funneled through a network of unsuspecting, often college-aged, individuals who agreed to have them deposited into their bank accounts.
The scheme hinged on speed. Members of the conspiracy, or the account holders themselves under their supervision, would immediately attempt to withdraw cash from the accounts via ATM cards *before* banks could flag the deposits as fraudulent. This brazen tactic allowed them to pocket the money before the checks bounced, leaving banks and account holders to shoulder the losses. Investigators believe the operation spanned six years, with the fraudulent checks being cashed in banks across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Authorities estimate the ring created and deposited approximately $1 million worth of counterfeit checks. Six other individuals named in the indictment have already been arrested and arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence. Rodriques appeared in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and is currently detained, awaiting extradition back to Rhode Island by the U.S. Marshals Service. He will face arraignment at a later date in Providence.
The investigation, initiated by the Providence Police Department’s Detective Bureau, Financial Crimes Unit, quickly expanded to include a joint task force with the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI. United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman highlighted the collaborative effort, also thanking the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General, Rhode Island State Police, and the Warwick and North Providence Police Departments for their assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland is prosecuting the case.
It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation, and Rodriques, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the scope of this alleged scheme, exploiting both legitimate businesses and vulnerable individuals, paints a picture of a calculated and far-reaching fraud operation. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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