Fraud ring responsible for cashing stolen U.S. Treasury checks indicted

A federal grand jury has indicted 19 people for allegedly stealing govement money, credit card fraud, and aggravated identity theft, based on their alleged involvement in an extensive scheme to steal and cash U.S. Treasury checks and use fraudulently obtained credit cards.   

”Fraud and identity theft crimes are now perceived as lucrative alteatives for criminal organizations, said United States Attoey Sally Quillian Yates.  ”People who commit these crimes prey upon unsuspecting victims, stealing the victims’ money and compromising their livelihoods, sometimes causing lifelong financial consequences.

Yates said that from June 2012 until September 2014, the defendants worked together to steal and then cash United States Treasury checks from various sources, including the U.S mail. 

The checks were originally issued to those entitled to the federal funds, including taxpayers receiving refunds, retired federal employees receiving pension benefits, military families, and Social Security beneficiaries receiving social security and disability payments. 

The 19 defendants have been indicted on multiple charges of theft of govement funds, credit card fraud, related conspiracy offenses, and aggravated identity theft. 

The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 11, 2014, and some have already made their initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman.

Those indicted and arrested, or already in custody, and their charges include (all from Atlanta, except where otherwise indicated):

· Hussain Abdullah, 33, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit Hobbs act robbery.

· Hudhayfah Abdullah, 31, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, aggravated identity theft, and lying on required form to purchase a firearm.

· Asad Abdullah, aka ”Baldhead, 36, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and access device fraud.

· Hafid Abdur-Rabbani, 36, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, and aggravated identity theft.

· Ibrahim Abdur-Rabbani, 32, of Decatur, Ga., conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, and aggravated identity theft.

· Khalil Majeed, 34, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement fund, and aggravated identity theft.

· Sayeed Valdez, 37, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, and aggravated identity theft.

· Erica Willis, 35, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, and aggravated identity theft.

· Dexter Willis, a/k/a Qadir Monies, a/k/a ”Dent, 35, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds.

· Antonio Slaton, 36, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds.

· Cory Howell, 42, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds.

· Damion Davis, 30, of College Park, Ga., conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds.

· Ali Al-Amin, 35, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, and aggravated identity theft.

· Zakariyah Abdullah, 34, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, aggravated identity theft, and improper use of a passport.

· Billee Cosby, 33, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

· Mikal Majeed, 32, of Ellenwood, Ga., conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

· Muhajid Ahmad, 32, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, theft of govement funds, and aggravated identity theft.

· Joann Drigo, 26, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds.

· Jasmine Proctor, 19, conspiracy to commit theft of govement funds, and theft of govement funds.

Assistant United States Attoeys Kim S. Dammers and Nekia S. Hackworth are prosecuting the case.