Seven individuals are facing federal charges in a $1 million ‘card cracking’ scheme that targeted banks across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The indictment, unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Providence, alleges a sophisticated fraud operation that exploited real bank accounts and counterfeit checks to siphon cash before banks could detect the fraud.
The accused include Stefan C. Gaye, aka “Swizzy,” 27; Edmilson A. Rodrigues, aka “2Fly,” 20; Nestor Concepcion, aka “Nestor J,” 23; Luis Rodriguez, aka “Clout Lord,” 19; Terrell Witherspoon, 23; and Leslie Susana, 20 — all of Providence. They are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. Shaun Dennis, 25, also of Providence, faces only the conspiracy charge.
According to the indictment, members of the conspiracy recruited individuals with access to legitimate checks from businesses and public agencies, photographing them and sending the images to counterfeiters. Using that data, fake checks were created and deposited into bank accounts belonging to unwitting participants — often college students lured through social media. The conspirators then used ATM cards tied to those accounts to withdraw large sums before banks flagged the deposits as fraudulent.
The scheme allegedly ran for six years, flooding financial institutions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts with approximately $1 million in bogus checks. The operation relied on precise timing: withdraw cash fast, vanish before detection. In some cases, account holders participated under direct supervision of the conspirators, making them complicit in the scam.
Stefan Gaye and Terrell Witherspoon have been arrested and arraigned. Nestor Concepcion, Luis Rodriguez, and Shaun Dennis are already held at the ACI on unrelated charges and are scheduled for arraignment on May 6, 2019. Warrants remain outstanding for Edmilson Rodrigues and Leslie Susana. All seven remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation began with the Providence Police Department’s Detective Bureau, Financial Crimes Unit, and quickly expanded to include the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and FBI. U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman credited the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, State Police, and local departments in Warwick and North Providence for critical support. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Ferland.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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