A federal grand jury has charged eight members of a Detroit-based organized fraud ring, the United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.
The suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft in a 23-count indictment, according to court officials.
Names of the people charged were:
- Toriano Adams, 32, of Eastpointe
- Anthony Adans, 32, of Troy
- Devin Simmons, 32, of Sterling Heights
- Aatif Brown, 25, of Detroit
- OD Williams, 27, of Detroit
- Denico Adams. 26, of Detroit
- Rodney Gist, 27, of Detroit
- Tayan Jackson, 32, of Brooklyn, New York
According to the indictment, the defendants were known as the "Free Band Gang." Members allegedly obtained stolen credit card accounts and used the information to make purchases at stores like Walmart throughout the United States.
Authorities say over a three year period, the members "stole millions of dollars in organized, calculated scheme."
“This type of identity theft and credit card fraud is not a victimless crime. It has a negative impact not only on the corporations involved but on the individual whose identity is stolen,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy R. Slater, FBI Detroit. “The FBI will continue to work in close partnership with the members of the Detroit Metro Identity Theft Task Force to identify and disrupt individuals and criminal organizations engaged in these schemes which can result in the loss of millions of dollars a year.”
