With 148 indictments on the table for alleged identity theft that cost at least 80 clients of JP Morgan Chase banks over $1 million, the question that begs an answer is, did Richard Dames, the "Geovanni Kasanova" ring leader, really seduce bank tellers into giving him the private information on people so he could conduct his pick pocketing on these unsuspecting victims?
The answer appears to be yes. There are two tellers that were seduced by this player's swagger into giving him personal information that allowed Dames access to accounts that enabled him to withdraw substantial sums of money and line his own pockets and those of his buddies.
The tellers Makila Williams and Kia Wylie are claiming that they were naïve and honestly thought that the money Dames gave them for computerized information on people with accounts at JP Morgan Chase bank was a way for them to win his heart. There are three other men involved in the ring as well, Ricky McCants, an employee of JP Morgan Chase, as well as Jamaluddin Almahdi, Wayne Mitchell.
The entire group was indicted on felony charges that include conspiracy, grand larceny and identity theft. While Dames' attorney proclaims that there's no way that Dames could possibly have masterminded this whole scenario, speaking to the fact that he is not "prince charming", smooth or charismatic - it appears that this lothario used these women, their trust and budding romance to weasel his way into the computer systems at JP Morgan Chase to blatantly steal from 80 innocent victims. But with Dames being in jail for the last year, is it possible for him to run this intense crime ring from his jail cell?
The prosecutor says yes, and the indictments hold up the idea that it is possible. And so too do the many reports proving that inmates had little to no problem operating successful tax refund fraud behind bars.
While Williams has no history of criminal activity, many people believe she should be held accountable for her actions that left these 80 people with millions of pieces to pick up to get their lives back in order, whether she was naive or not. She did have a hint that something wasn't right at one point, asking Dames outright if he was using her because of his constant questioning about her job, but decided to let that slide when he said he was not using her. This "poor girl" honestly believed that Dames' real name was Kasanova - only finding out his true identity on Aug 4 from her holding cell on Rikers Island.
While Williams' plans were to finish college and start her life, these plans were derailed when she came face to face with the criminal world in a life-time criminal like Dames, and in her naivety, believed that love could conquer all, even when she was copying the account holders' signature cards for her beau. The idea that he kissed her into committing fraud and identity theft leaves some people shaking their head, with Dames' attorney suggesting that those kisses are not at all a smoking gun being held to her head to coerce her into committing crimes.
The group pick pocketed victims and then patiently waited for weeks to apply for credit cards in their names in order to purchase expensive items. The indicted group will face the court again on Sept. 14, and each faces a maximum sentence of 25 years if convicted.
Don't be blinded by love -or a crafty con-artist. The old cliche, "All is fair in love and war," is just that --and old cliche and it doesn't apply in the real world.
Whether it's for love or money, insider identity theft continues to be a growing threat.
The answer appears to be yes. There are two tellers that were seduced by this player's swagger into giving him personal information that allowed Dames access to accounts that enabled him to withdraw substantial sums of money and line his own pockets and those of his buddies.
The tellers Makila Williams and Kia Wylie are claiming that they were naïve and honestly thought that the money Dames gave them for computerized information on people with accounts at JP Morgan Chase bank was a way for them to win his heart. There are three other men involved in the ring as well, Ricky McCants, an employee of JP Morgan Chase, as well as Jamaluddin Almahdi, Wayne Mitchell.
The entire group was indicted on felony charges that include conspiracy, grand larceny and identity theft. While Dames' attorney proclaims that there's no way that Dames could possibly have masterminded this whole scenario, speaking to the fact that he is not "prince charming", smooth or charismatic - it appears that this lothario used these women, their trust and budding romance to weasel his way into the computer systems at JP Morgan Chase to blatantly steal from 80 innocent victims. But with Dames being in jail for the last year, is it possible for him to run this intense crime ring from his jail cell?
The prosecutor says yes, and the indictments hold up the idea that it is possible. And so too do the many reports proving that inmates had little to no problem operating successful tax refund fraud behind bars.
While Williams has no history of criminal activity, many people believe she should be held accountable for her actions that left these 80 people with millions of pieces to pick up to get their lives back in order, whether she was naive or not. She did have a hint that something wasn't right at one point, asking Dames outright if he was using her because of his constant questioning about her job, but decided to let that slide when he said he was not using her. This "poor girl" honestly believed that Dames' real name was Kasanova - only finding out his true identity on Aug 4 from her holding cell on Rikers Island.
While Williams' plans were to finish college and start her life, these plans were derailed when she came face to face with the criminal world in a life-time criminal like Dames, and in her naivety, believed that love could conquer all, even when she was copying the account holders' signature cards for her beau. The idea that he kissed her into committing fraud and identity theft leaves some people shaking their head, with Dames' attorney suggesting that those kisses are not at all a smoking gun being held to her head to coerce her into committing crimes.
The group pick pocketed victims and then patiently waited for weeks to apply for credit cards in their names in order to purchase expensive items. The indicted group will face the court again on Sept. 14, and each faces a maximum sentence of 25 years if convicted.
Don't be blinded by love -or a crafty con-artist. The old cliche, "All is fair in love and war," is just that --and old cliche and it doesn't apply in the real world.
Whether it's for love or money, insider identity theft continues to be a growing threat.
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