ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Six additional individuals have been indicted in connection to a large-scale conspiracy targeting credit unions across the United States. This indictment adds to the previous eight people indicted earlier this year, bringing the total number of accused individuals in the case to 14. The Department of Justice revealed that these individuals orchestrated a scheme to steal the identities of people nationwide, using those identities to illegally obtain cash, loans, checks, and credit from various banks and credit unions.
The conspiracy, which reportedly began in 2021, involved the opening of fraudulent bank accounts. It resulted in nearly $3 million in intended losses and more than $1.5 million in actual financial losses. In the earlier indictment from March, defendants including Oluwaseun Adekoya, 39, of New Jersey, and David Daniyan, 60, of Brooklyn, were charged alongside others with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of aggravated identity theft.
The superseding indictment follows an ongoing investigation that started in 2022, following the arrest of Daniyan, Kennedy, and Barriera by the Cohoes Police Department. The investigation revealed that the defendants used the stolen funds to purchase luxury items such as Rolex watches, Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and high-end clothing.
The newly indicted defendants are as follows:
Oluwaseun Adekoya (39, New Jersey): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and nine counts of aggravated identity theft.
David Daniyan (60, Brooklyn): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
Kani Bassie (36, Brooklyn): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Davon Hunter (27, Richmond, Virginia): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Jermon Brooks (20, Richmond, Virginia): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Christian Quivers (20, Richmond, Virginia): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Sherry Ozmore (56, Richmond, Virginia): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Crystal Kurschner (44, Brooklyn): Charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The previously indicted defendants, including Balogun, Barriera, Cappetti, Joyner, and Lucchese, have all pled guilty to conspiracy charges and are awaiting sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
The charges against the defendants carry severe penalties: up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud conspiracy, up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy, and a mandatory two-year sentence for each count of aggravated identity theft, to be served consecutively to other prison terms.