HOUSTON, TX – A criminal group from Chicago is under investigation across Texas after scamming unsuspecting victims by exploiting a fake story about a murdered autistic child to solicit fraudulent donations.
The scam came to a head when Southside Place Police apprehended four suspects following a high-speed chase through West University and Bellaire. Dashcam video shows the dramatic pursuit, which ended with a crash and arrest of the suspects.
The individuals charged include:
Raymond Stokes, 26
James Williams, 34
Hunley Enyce, 23
Earnestine Van, 28 (driver, charged with evading police)
All three men face charges of fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information, and authorities suspect they are part of a larger organized crime ring that originated in Chicago.
Detective Scott Ashmore revealed that the suspects have extensive criminal records. “All of them have criminal histories as long as my arm in Chicago,” he said. “They’ve been preying on women in parking lots.”
One Houston-area mother, who chose to remain anonymous, shared how she was targeted on May 15 outside a shopping center in the 3800 block of Bellaire. The group approached her with compliments, then presented a flyer for the so-called “James Hoover Funeral Fund,” a fraudulent charity allegedly for a child with autism who had been shot.
Moved by the emotional plea, she offered $15 in cash—but the group pressed her for a credit card. She handed it over, wanting to quickly exit the uncomfortable situation. Moments later, she received a $5,000 fraud alert and alerted police.
Responding officers quickly spotted the suspects, triggering a chase down Bellaire Boulevard. After blowing two tires, the suspects crashed and tried to flee on foot, but were caught shortly after.
“They got two at gunpoint on the feeder, right before Bellaire,” an officer was heard saying over police radio.
Authorities say this group has scammed victims in Illinois and Texas, and likely other states in between. One local woman nearly lost $50,000, and another in Illinois confirmed she was scammed out of $5,000.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, the suspects were released on personal recognizance (PR) bonds, which require no upfront cash to be freed from jail.
Detectives are now coordinating with agencies across Texas and the Midwest and are considering organized crime or federal charges to ensure the suspects face appropriate penalties.
Officer Ashmore urged the public to remain cautious:
“People are scammed every day. If something doesn’t feel right, slow down the conversation, ask questions—or just walk away.”
The public is encouraged to contact local law enforcement if they believe they’ve been targeted by similar schemes.
