Seven members of a Charlotte-area Hip Hop outfit known as Freebandz Gang (no relation to Future) went the extra mile in proving you can’t believe everything these rappers flaunt on YouTube and Instagram.
According to WSOCTV Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reports the aspiring rap group had been running an elaborate social media scheme where they solicit people to open a “straw” bank account for $500-$1,000 and then deposit altered checks — and make off with the cash before the banks even had a clue.
The indictment also accuses the group of running elaborate identity theft loopholes where they would use the info to buy cars and phones, and then flip them on the street — or resell them. Through all the capers, the Feds speculate that the group made off with roughly $1.2 million before they were busted.
“It is a lucrative business,” Sgt. Robert Sprague, a specialist of investigating financial crimes, told the outlet.
“Using other neighbors, friends, family, relatives as their victims. Absolutely, it makes it very dangerous,” Sprague said, citing how the Freebandz Gang allegedly paid people they may have previously known to open the bank accounts in order to have easy access to the newly created PIN numbers.
“It would be a surprise to everybody that it happens everywhere, every city,” Sprague said.
The official United States Department of Justice press release identifies the individuals as James Murray Willingham, Jr., 23, Damonte Withers, 27, Deandre Howze, 23, Jeffrey Monteith, 22, Quadarius Thomas, 23, Laerek Williams, 25 and Nemiah Davis, 25.
Every suspect resieds Charlotte and were all charged multiple counts of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft while Withers and Thomas also face firearms-related charges.
thats less than 200k each. have fun in prison dumbasses
if they mad DX they’ll not go top prison lol lawyers are now going crazy offering help.
And who’s paying these lawyers? I doubt attorneys are tripping over each other to represent a bunch of negroes in the south, with no means to pay them, and in a case that’s a for sure loser. These clowns are going to get the dumbest shittiest borderline retarded lawyers in the history of public pretenders. Hoped they stashed some ramen money.
Notice they are all black.
Dey Dindu N.uffin
This is what Jeezy was talking about. These rappers are leading the youth straight to prison and an early grave. Future said freebandz, now everyone wants to do get into fraud. Stop believing these rappers cause they don’t do what they say.
Same jeezy who’s called the snowman and advocates selling coke?
it’s the white man’s fault. they institutionalized the black youth to be criminal. overthrow the establishment and start again properly
Well thats a poisoness way to look at things. So you’re saying you can’t tell right from wrong because of the white man. You’re saying that a valid excuse for everything is the white man made me do it. If that’s what we are teaching our youth i dont think we’ll ever come up out of poverty.
White collar crime in the white world is considered a victimless crime as all the money is insured by the banks (fdic). Only when financial schemes perpetrated by people of color do the establishment cause an upriar. White Dr. Scams medicare and Medicaid for 600 million . So this 1.2 million is drop in the bucket. Watch how different the penalties are from those who embezzle or participate in Ponzi schemes.
Questions would be are they involved with the gang of party goers that held a Heir hostage in Gastonia then kidnapped taken to estates in Shelby then Charlotte NC in 2015.
A wealthy heir receiving his inheritance of millions was invited to a home in Gastonia to celebrate. Individuals used facebook and other online media sources to spread the word and invite more guest. Pictures went out of bundles of money. Guest turned into robbers holding individuals hostage , extorting others while using atm cards to withdraw money and more. Names and ages being with held due to it being a ongoing story. Individuals are known to be using bank account information stolen checkbooks and identification.
Due to injuries this story is just being reported. If any one knows more we ask that they contact the FBI. Or post comments using social media outlets.
Power 98. fm in Charlotte spoke of this briefly.
Eye witness Reports.
Organization rep: Victims
Check scams happen way to often. Are they connected to the charlotte rappers that where spreading cash all over Charlotte and Shelby.
Whats the word going on about T.Maurice Burris Esq .
Is he Trin2Hyype
Is there a J.B Hunt jr connection and the million$
Power 98.
Scams. … Are they connected to Rising artists that attended a million dollar US Introduction Tour Party in N.C for Trin2Hyype aka J.B Hunt jr “The Heir”. 2Hyype who had meetings with Jay Z Nick Cannon Xxx Tentacion TI Amigos Kodak Black and so many others . Yet has been censored by Mainstream media following unreported incidents occurring in 2014. Rumors of smear /slander campaign by jealous associates who was hell bent on destroying his career. Some say staging videos & photos in a 25+ million extortion blackmail scheme….. Fans hope to hear more
Stop the Censorship of Trin2Hyype aka J.B Hunt jr “The Heir” 2014 US Introduction Tour in NC，不要太累就Heir to Hip Hop…… I was at the Party of the Century in NC Atl & S.Florida,
Did these guys attend the 100 + million trust fund party in Gastonia NC. Rumors of millions taken in checks, …. Performance by Trin2Hyype…. seem him perform in LA , NY S Florida. 181Main in Gastonia with Ted Parks DJ Shadow. DJ Codene