Investigations into regional criminal scams across the state involving the fraudulent use of debit cards to make unauthorized cash withdrawals at Santander Bank ATMs led to the arrest of more than two dozen people in Monmouth County on Aug. 18, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.
The thieves were able to exploit a glitch in automated teller machines (ATMs) belonging to
Santander Bank, allowing them to use prepaid debit cards to make continuous withdrawals of cash from the ATMs, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
The prepaid debit cards can be purchased at most retail stores, according to the press release.
Bank officials were alerted to higher-than-usual ATM withdrawals and eventually closed down their ATM locations, according to the press release.
Santander Bank has subsequently corrected the glitch in the ATM machines.
“This is a great example of inter-agency cooperation and how it works to everyone’s benefit. These local police departments received the information about this growing scam from state and federal authorities and they kept a watchful eye that resulted in arrests. Everyone involved did an outstanding job,” Gramiccioni said.
The following arrests were made:
By the Englishtown Police Department:
• Cesar Armando Ortiz Jr., 25, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, criminal attempt – theft by an unlawful taking and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Asaun Stone, 24, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, criminal attempt – theft by an unlawful taking and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• David Gorin Redding, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, criminal attempt – theft by an unlawful taking and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Noel Machado, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, criminal attempt – theft by an unlawful taking and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Denzel I. Gravenhise, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, criminal attempt – theft by an unlawful taking and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Teru J. Pratt, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, criminal attempt – theft by an unlawful taking and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Gregory M. Harrington, 31, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, criminal attempt – theft by an unlawful taking and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
By the Freehold Township Police Department:
• Damon C Joseph, 23, of The Bronx, N.Y., charged with theft, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.
• Quran E Martin, 25, of East Harlem, N.Y., charged with theft, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.
By the Holmdel Township Police Department:
• Derrick Jackson, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with criminal attempt – fraudulent Use of a credit card.
By the Little Silver Police Department:
• Robert F. Aiello, 55, of Mountain Lakes, charged with credit card theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, conspiracy – theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft of U.S. currency, and a disorderly persons offense of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.
• Raim A Duplessis, 23, of Newark, charged with credit card theft and conspiracy to commit credit card theft.
• Zamir Zhaire Knox, 21, of Union, charged with credit card theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and obstruction of the administration of the law.
• Giovanni Neville Tyrell, 24, of Teaneck, charged with credit card theft, conspiracy to commit credit card theft and a disorderly persons offense of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.
• Martin J. Rosendary, 24, of Union, charged with credit card theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking and obstruction of the administration of the law.
• Briana Aviles, 22, of Newark, charged with credit card theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and a disorderly persons offense of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.
• Markeem Louise Jackson, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with credit card theft, receiving stolen property and disorderly persons offenses of possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Wayne Hill, 22, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with credit card theft and conspiracy – theft by an unlawful taking.
By the Marlboro Police Department:
Marlboro police officers observed individuals loitering in a lobby of the ATM at Santander. The suspects were subsequently detained during a traffic stop by the Old Bridge Police Department and the following individuals were charged:
•Ishmil Q. Harmon, 28, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking and computer crime to access with the purpose to defraud.
•Devaim K. Fulmore, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking and computer crime to access with the purpose to defraud.
•Shyiem L. McLean, 22, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking and computer crime to access with the purpose to defraud.
•Charles E. Sprowal Jr., 22, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking and computer crime to access with the purpose to defraud.
By the Wall Township Police Department:
• Anthony J. Kelly, 31, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking and possession of marijuana under 50 grams, a disorderly persons offense.
• Clifton Davis, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking, possession of oxycodone and possession of marijuana under 50 grams, a disorderly persons offense.
• Barrington L. Wright, 25, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking and possession of marijuana under 50 grams, a disorderly persons offense.
• Sean Bennett, 22, of Chester, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
• Robert J. Glisson Jr., 24, of The Bronx, N.Y., charged with possession of marijuana
under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
• Timothy Gonzalez, 26, of The Bronx, N.Y., charged with theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
• Quenton L. Price, 24, of Bethlehem, Pa., charged with theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses.
• Tyrell T. Mingo, 24, of Teaneck, charged with theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses. Mingo is being held at the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, pending a future court date.
• Leroy C. Woods-Williams, 24, of Hackensack, charged with theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both disorderly persons offenses. Woods-Williams is being held at the Monmouth County jail pending a future court date.
According to the press release, authorities are aware of multiple attempts that were made in municipalities across Monmouth County, but have not resulted in any arrests.
Anyone who has additional information about this statewide scam is asked to call their local police department or Detective Elethia Baldwin of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 and ask to speak to a detective in the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau.