A “coordinated and systematic attack” by a well-organized criminal network defrauded Fox Communities Credit Union (FCCU) out of nearly $200,000, prosecutors say. So far, 17 individuals have been charged in connection with the large-scale fraud and money laundering scheme.
According to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, the fraud was orchestrated by a criminal enterprise using social engineering scams and money mule recruitment to exploit vulnerabilities in credit unions across Wisconsin.
As of August 29, prosecutors have charged all 17 suspects with fraud against a financial institution. Sixteen also face money laundering charges, while three—Deandre Mackontee, Demetrius King Jr., and Brad Porter—were additionally charged with organizing financial crimes.
Fraud value charges ranged from $500 to $10,000 for 14 individuals, while three individuals, including Mackontee, King, and Terry Hendricks, faced charges involving $10,000 to $100,000. For money laundering, five were charged with proceeds between $2,500 and $5,000, eight with proceeds between $5,000 and $10,000, and three with proceeds between $10,000 and $100,000. The only defendant not charged with money laundering is Addie Harden.
The operation began with scammers calling FCCU members, pretending to be fraud department representatives. Victims were told there was suspicious activity on their accounts and were asked for usernames. The scammer would then trigger a verification code prompt, convincing victims to hand over the code—granting full access to their banking app.
Once inside, scammers locked out victims by changing passwords, transferred money to accounts set up by co-conspirators (money mules), and quickly withdrew or moved funds through ATMs, transfers, or purchases. Many mules opened accounts just one to two days before the transfers. They received a small cut, while most of the funds were funneled up to the enterprise leaders.
Deandre Mackontee was identified as the lead local organizer. He recruited mules via Facebook, targeting people seeking fast cash, oversaw transactions, withdrawals, and trained others in the scheme. In a July 10 interview, Mackontee admitted he was recruited by someone acting as an intermediary between a Chicago-based organizer and local cells.
Demetrius King Jr. helped recruit participants and told investigators he was directed by “people above Mackontee.” He waited for instructions from upper levels of the organization. Brad Porter also recruited others and accompanied them to withdraw funds, working closely with Mackontee and King.
On April 10, officers conducted a sting operation in response to a Facebook post by Mackontee, believed to be an ad for recruiting mules. Mackontee asked for bank usernames and passwords and told officers to transfer $2,000 to his CashApp once the fraud was complete. He also pressured officers to open more accounts and recruit others.
Fox Communities Credit Union lost $192,195.80, and Community First Credit Union lost $23,144.45. All affected members were reimbursed in full, said FCCU Chief Marketing Officer Melanie Draheim. She emphasized that ensuring members feel protected is the credit union’s top priority.
What made this case unusual was the scale and coordination. Once the credit union realized the cases were connected, they involved law enforcement. FCCU continues to educate members on scam awareness, collaborate with other financial institutions, and proactively monitor for signs of fraud. Draheim noted that members themselves are often the first line of defense in protecting their accounts.
The 17 defendants charged are Deandre Mackontee, 25, of Allouez; Demetrius King Jr., 26, of Green Bay; Brad Porter, 50, of Oneida; Trivian Walton, 25, of Green Bay; Cornelius Steele, 28, of Bellevue; Stacy Swille, 42, of Green Bay; Dion Crawford, 57, of Milwaukee; Shayne Rudolph, 51, of Green Bay; Leona Dixon, 41, of Keshena; Sisely Miller, 28, of Green Bay; Carly Picotte, 43, of Green Bay; Shaylea Hernandez, 25, of Green Bay; Aliya Shaw, 18, of Green Bay; Destinee Clayborn, 26, of Green Bay; Terry Hendricks, 32, of Green Bay; Dennis Cutler, 26, of Ashwaubenon; and Addie Harden, 58, of De Pere.
