Attorney General Dave Sunday, alongside the Pennsylvania State Police, has announced the arrest of 24 individuals connected to a large-scale theft operation that defrauded financial institutions and their customers in central Pennsylvania. The criminal enterprise, which spanned Cumberland, Dauphin, and York counties, allegedly swindled over $3 million from unsuspecting victims.
The alleged leader of the operation, 22-year-old Jeremy Antuan Boria Fraticelli of York, is facing multiple charges, including corrupt organizations, identity theft, and access device fraud. He and his 23 co-conspirators are accused of using deceptive tactics to steal personal banking information, accessing victims’ accounts, and transferring large sums of money into funnel accounts. These funds were then withdrawn and distributed among the members of the scheme.
“This criminal enterprise ruthlessly deceived hard-working Pennsylvanians and violated their sense of security by stealing from bank accounts — to the tune of more than three million dollars,” said Attorney General Sunday. “Thanks to a collaborative, comprehensive investigation with the Pennsylvania State Police, we were able to identify the bad actors and their methods in this widespread scheme. We also thank the financial institutions for their full cooperation in the investigation.”
According to the investigation, the group operated by impersonating customer service representatives from financial institutions, tricking customers into divulging sensitive banking information. Once the thieves had access to the victims’ accounts, they transferred money into accounts controlled by the organization, where the funds were withdrawn and split among the conspirators.
The investigation led to the October arrest of six key individuals in the operation, including Fraticelli and several other York residents: 39-year-old Kermith Roldan-Lopez, 23-year-old Juan Woodard Jr., 26-year-old Tahire Reid, 22-year-old Daniel Casiano, and 27-year-old Shawn Chance. The remaining 18 individuals involved in the scheme are still being tracked down, and further arrests are expected.
Colonel Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, emphasized the significance of dismantling such fraudulent operations. “This case highlights the lengths criminals will go to exploit innocent people for financial gain. The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to working with our partners to identify and dismantle these fraudulent operations, ensuring those responsible are held accountable,” Paris stated.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to pursue those involved in the scheme.
