Authorities have arrested a second suspect in connection with a 2023 scam that defrauded the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and its former executive director of more than $850,000.
Cyril Morrow, 60, was extradited from Florida and booked into the Boulder County Jail on Tuesday, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Morrow faces charges including money laundering, theft between $20,000 and $100,000, and cybercrime to defraud involving the same amount, according to court records.
The fraudulent scheme resulted in losses totaling $852,403.34. Investigators say scammers withdrew $508,725 directly from accounts belonging to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and its former executive director. In addition, the suspects allegedly deposited and laundered $343,678.34 through hundreds of stolen U.S. Treasury checks.
The case already led to the arrest of a Georgia man, Dominique Haywood, in November. Haywood admitted to receiving $30,000 from the scheme and pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. In January, he was sentenced to 10 years of probation as part of a plea deal in which three additional charges were dropped.
According to an arrest affidavit, the scam began in October 2023 when a man identifying himself as “Danny” called Vicki Trumbo, then the executive director of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. The caller claimed to represent Chase Bank and warned Trumbo that her account was involved in fraudulent wire transfers. He offered to help resolve the issue.
Following his instructions, Trumbo logged into her Chase account, which was connected to both the chamber’s financial accounts and her personal accounts. The caller then gained remote access to her computer, enabling him to control the account activity.
Over the next two months, the scammer withdrew approximately $360,200 from the chamber’s bank account and another $148,525 from Trumbo’s personal account. Investigators noted that Trumbo had roughly 90 phone conversations with the individual during that time.
Authorities also allege that the suspect deposited 375 U.S. Treasury checks totaling $343,678.34 into the chamber’s account to facilitate money laundering.
Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the caller known as “Danny” is Morrow, Haywood, or another individual connected to the operation.
Police say Morrow received $95,500 through two wire transfers linked to the scam. Bank records reportedly show multiple transfers and withdrawals from his accounts after the money was received.
The investigation has identified at least five additional suspects from Georgia and Florida. Detectives used phone records, bank transfer data, transaction histories, flight information, CashApp records, and text messages to link Morrow and others to the scheme.
One suspect allegedly discussed the need to deposit U.S. Treasury checks into the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce account during text exchanges with another individual involved in the operation.
Morrow is currently being held in Boulder County Jail on a $500,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. on March 26 at the Boulder County Justice Center.
