BUFFALO, NY – Ricky Butler, 41, of Buffalo, New York, has confessed to orchestrating a sophisticated bank fraud and identity theft scheme that raked in nearly $1,084,000, according to federal prosecutors. Butler pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, facing a potential 30-year prison sentence and a $1,000,000 fine.
The operation, which ran from July 2013 to January 2014, saw Butler conspiring with a crew including Randy Jarrett, Tamika Favors, Catherine Jarrett, Teria Baker, and Danielle Hamilton. They illegally obtained credit card access and personal identifying information, using it to request new and replacement cards shipped to addresses across the Western District of New York and beyond. Butler didn’t just swipe a few cards; he took control of over 59 separate accounts.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys MaryEllen Kresse and Jonathan Cantil detailed how Butler was the ringleader, dictating where the stolen cards would be used – primarily at Walmart and other retail stores. He wasn’t just after the goods, though. Butler directed his accomplices, Favors, Baker, and Hamilton, to forge signatures on the cards to complete purchases. Crucially, he also controlled the resulting gift cards, oversaw their resale, and pocketed the lion’s share of the profits.
This wasn’t a one-off crime; the investigation revealed a clear pattern of organized fraud. All members of Butler’s crew—Jarrett, Favors, Catherine Jarrett, Danielle Hamilton, and Teria Baker—have already been convicted on related charges, indicating a widespread effort to defraud financial institutions and consumers. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service jointly investigated the case, bringing it to light.
The Secret Service, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Lewis Robinson, and the Postal Inspectors, under Acting Inspector-in-Charge Ray Moss, built a solid case against Butler. The evidence clearly showed his central role in the conspiracy, from obtaining the cards to controlling the money. This wasn’t a crime of opportunity; it was a calculated, large-scale operation designed to generate illicit profits.
Butler’s sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo. With the potential for a 30-year sentence, Butler now faces the consequences of his actions, and the Western District of New York will be a little safer from this type of predatory fraud. The Department of Justice, Western District of New York, handled the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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