Misty Sarfo-Adu, Bank Fraud and Credit Card Fraud, New Jersey 2023

A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man has admitted participating in schemes to negotiate fraudulent checks with forged signatures and to use credit cards without authorization.

Misty Sarfo-Adu, 28, of Sewell, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of access device fraud conspiracy.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Sarfo-Adu conspired with Eugene Koranteng, Emmanuel Yirenkyi, and others to commit bank fraud by obtaining blank checks containing the names and account information of unsuspecting customers of a credit card company.

They made the checks payable to members of the conspiracy, forged the customers’ signatures on the checks, and negotiated the checks at financial institutions. In a separate scheme, Sarfo-Adu and Yirenkyi also conspired to use credit cards without the account holders’ knowledge or authorization.

Sarfo-Adu admitted that the fraud schemes caused a loss to the credit card company of more than $150,000.

The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 28, 2023.

Koranteng and Yirenkyi remain charged in criminal complaints. The charges and allegations contained in the complaints against Koranteng and Yirenkyi are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger also thanked the Moorestown Police Department for its assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant/Respondent: Misty Sarfo-Adu
Criminal Charges: One count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of access device fraud conspiracy
City and State: Camden, New Jersey
Exact Date: (No specific date mentioned, but sentencing is scheduled for November 28, 2023)
Sentence or Outcome: Faces up to 35 years in prison and $1.25 million in fines
Dollar Amounts: More than $150,000

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