Joey Westbrook Sentenced in $3.1M Credit Card Fraud Scheme

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The final defendant in a sprawling $3,179,329.06 credit card fraud conspiracy has been sentenced, closing the book on one of Central Ohio’s most brazen electronic theft rings. Joey Westbrook, 21, of Columbus, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today.

Westbrook was one of nine defendants who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a scheme that spanned from April 2012 to March 2015. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson handed down the sentence after court records revealed the group’s coordinated effort to monetize thousands of stolen credit card numbers through gift card fraud, ATM cashouts, and retail exploitation.

The operation began with Francois Toure, 26, of Reynoldsburg, who purchased more than 4,700 stolen credit card numbers online. He re-encoded the magnetic strips of legitimate prepaid and gift cards with the stolen data, turning them into fraudulent payment tools. Shoppers armed with these cards bought high-value gift cards and merchandise at retail stores, then funneled them through Beechcroft Newsstand, operated by Mohamed Mobarak, 27, and Ahmad Mobarak, 22.

The Mobarak brothers used their newsstand’s point-of-sale terminal to fraudulently redeem the stolen gift cards. Mohamed Mobarak also loaded privately owned ATMs with illicit funds, part of which came directly from the credit card fraud. Investigators tied the scheme to 46 ATMs, two vehicles, firearms, ammunition, electronic equipment, and $599,962.82 in seized cash.

The total intended loss reached $3,179,329.06. Judge Watson ordered $928,008.92 in restitution to victims. All nine defendants received prison terms between 33 and 60 months. The others who pleaded guilty include Robert A. Kamara, 27, of Canal Winchester; Enouch J. Kermue, 27, of Columbus; Asher Merritt, 28, of Columbus; Diddier Mami, 28, of Inkster, Michigan; and Destani T. Cable, 28, of Columbus.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman credited the Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the 65-member Southern District of Ohio Electronic Crimes Task Force with dismantling the ring. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Bosley and Peter K. Glenn-Applegate prosecuted the case, underscoring the growing threat of organized digital fraud in Middle America.