Authorities have arrested four men as part of an extensive investigation into a money laundering scheme targeting residents in the Houston area. The Mont Belvieu Police Department, alongside various law enforcement agencies, has been looking into reports of unauthorized wire transfers that resulted in stolen funds from bank accounts.
The investigation identified at least 35 victims from Mont Belvieu, Baytown, Chambers County, Houston, and Liberty County, with approximately $350,000 believed to have been stolen and laundered. Officials estimate that this amount could escalate to as much as $600,000.
Police Chief Jimmy Ellison stated, “The scheme involved suspects obtaining stolen financial data from victims, then using various online messaging apps to recruit lower-level participants who allowed their legitimate bank accounts to funnel the stolen funds.”
Dubbed “Operation Cash Back,” this investigation highlighted the roles of four primary suspects in leading the scheme, recruiting others, and facilitating the laundering of stolen money.
The operation, spearheaded by the U.S. Marshals Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement, resulted in 40 search warrants for electronic devices, along with two additional warrants executed at residences in McNair and Baytown.
“Financial crimes like these are becoming increasingly common and more complex,” said Chief Ellison. “This multi-agency investigation is a testament to diligent detective work and our invaluable local, state, and federal partnerships that bring justice to victims of such crimes.”
The arrested individuals—20-year-old Jayson Vershawn Gipson, 21-year-old Lajewel Simon McGilbray, 23-year-old Gregory Wayne Edwards III, and 25-year-old Doc Leon Frank—are facing charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and money laundering.
Authorities have also frozen multiple bank accounts associated with the suspects and recovered an additional $10,000 in cash related to the scheme, alongside various illegal drugs and controlled substances found in their possession.