PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Two Providence men indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday were arraigned today while a third person is being sought for allegedly leading schemes to create and deposit nearly a quarter of a million dollars in counterfeit business and personal checks, and quickly withdrawing the funds before banks determined that the checks were created using stolen personal identifying and bank account information.
It is alleged in the indictments that Terrance Richardson, aka Teebobe Juheard, 29, and Richard Koboi, aka Sunnyboy Taylor, 26, obtained stolen checks and stolen banking information of actual businesses and individuals they used to create fraudulent checks. It is alleged that the two men recruited and paid individuals with actual bank accounts to allow the counterfeit checks to be deposited into their accounts. It is alleged that as part of the scheme, once the counterfeit checks were deposited and prior to banks discovering that the checks were counterfeit, Richardson and Koboi made rapid withdrawals of cash, made cash transfers, and made debit card purchases.
It is alleged in an indictment that between April 27, 2020, and March 3, 2021, Richardson executed schemes to deposit and withdraw funds represented by at least eleven counterfeit checks for between $2,824 and $60,322.
It is alleged in a separate indictment that between January 23, 2020, and March 3, 2021, Koboi executed schemes to deposit and withdraw funds represented by seven counterfeit checks for between $2,896.43 and $9,637.02.
Additionally, it is alleged that Koboi, previously convicted and sentenced on felony charges of breaking and entering and domestic violence, purchased, possessed and later sold a 9mm pistol.
On Friday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Koboi with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, seven counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and felon in possession of a firearm. The grand jury returned a separate indictment charging Richardson with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, eleven counts of bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
As part of this investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI, a third individual, Patrick Johnson, 36, previously of Providence, has been charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Johnson whose whereabouts are unknown.
It is alleged in court documents that in addition to participating in bank fraud schemes with Koboi and Richardson, Johnson mailed counterfeit Home Equity Line of Credit checks throughout the country from Post Offices in and around Providence.
A federal indictment and criminal complaint are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges brought against Terrance Richardson, Richard Koboi, and Patrick Johnson are announced by Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.
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