A Michigan man at the center of an alleged ring to scam banks has been indicted.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Dasion Q. Samuels-Thomas, 28, of Detroit, charging him with eight counts of theft and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said Samuels-Thomas allegedly contacted a woman about running the scam locally.
According to court documents, the woman allegedly used a fraudulent check, to open an account at the Richwood Banking Company. Phillips said the woman presented a payroll check from a business that did not exist.
“Once the account was open, she would immediately go, allegedly, to other branches trying to cash checks,” Phillips said.
He said the woman would try to cash the checks before the original check processed and officials learned it was fake.
Court documents allege that between September and October, the woman cashed several checks, totaling $9,628.96.
Phillips said this is, “a group of people doing this at various institutions.”
“There were multiple, multiple incidents,” Phillips said
He said that while Samuels-Thomas was not the one cashing the checks, he was the leader.
“The whole scam, this whole group, was allegedly directed by Mr. Samuels-Thomas,” the prosecutor said, adding that his focus is not necessarily on the one who cashed the check, but the leader.
“Absolutely, they are using people to do this, but we really want to get to the heart of this organization,” Phillips said.
If convicted on all counts, Samuels-Thomas could face more than 16 years in prison.
Also indicted were codefendants Caitlyn Dawn Miller and Brennen L. Tucker.
Miller, 29, of 18772 Miller Road, Richwood, is charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft.
Tucker, 34, of 222 Curtis St., Delaware, is charged with one count each of theft and complicity in the commission of an offense.
Phillips said that on Nov. 20, a local man contacted law enforcement to report his home had been broken into. Investigators discovered a local business with a security camera that caught the incident.
According to court documents, the video shows Tucker drive into and around the area. Tucker and Miller get out of the SUV and walk toward the rear of the house.
“Video surveillance shows Tucker and Miller entering the fenced area of (the victim’s) property and eventually depart the area and load items into the rear of Tucker’s vehicle,” according to court documents.
The pair allegedly stole shoes, electronics and tools.
When the homeowners saw the video, they were able to identify the pair. They said Miller and Tucker did not have permission to be in the home or to take anything.
If convicted on all counts, Tucker and Miller could each face as many as nine years in prison.