8 Charged In Identity Theft Ring In NJ
TRENTON, NJ (CBS) – Eight people – including a former bank teller -- have been charged with participating in an identity theft ring that used account information stolen from TD Bank customers.
Officials say the eight suspects then used that information to steal more than $150,000 at bank branches in New Jersey.
Seven of the accused were indicted on Oct. 28th on second-degree of conspiracy, theft by deception and identity theft. The eighth person was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 5th.
According to the NJ Attorney General, those charged are:
1. Bronthie K. Charles, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a former teller at TD Bank. She allegedly stole the identities of TD Bank customers while working for the bank in New York from January 2012 to May 2013.
2. Divine D. Garcia Jr., 28, of Jersey City, N.J. He allegedly was the leader of the ring to whom Charles provided account information of TD Bank customers. Garcia was arrested on Nov. 5 at LaGuardia Airport by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police.
3. Robert A. Wadiak, 47, of Roselle Park, N.J. He and the remaining defendants in the indictment allegedly fraudulently assumed the identities of TD Bank customers to steal funds from TD Bank branch offices in New Jersey. Wadiak allegedly was involved in thefts of $111,500.
4. Kenneth L. Cummings, 53, of Philadelphia, Pa.
5. Blanche R. Lopez, 43, of Cliffside Park, N.J.
6. Rosa Samuels, 59, of Bronx, N.Y.
7. Demira D. Woodson, 22, of Roselle Park, N.J.
The eighth suspect, Antonio Clemente, 34, of the Bronx, was arrested today.
Officials say the indictment charges the suspects with 21 separate thefts across New Jersey that ranged in amount from $3,500 to $9,000. If convicted, the suspects face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000.
