FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR STEALING MORE THAN $29,000 IN THE FIRST KNOWN ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER (EBT) SCAM

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson and the NYC Commissioner of the Human Resources Administration Verna Eggleston announced today that five people have been charged in the first known indicted case for credit fraud involving the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system. The EBT system is a debit / credit card which replaced paper food stamps. A grand jury has indicted the defendants on Grand larceny and related charges for allegedly stealing more than $29,000 from a Pioneer / Janview Food, Inc. Supermarket in the Bronx.

Mr. Johnson said that the arrests were the result of a two-month joint investigation by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and HRA’s Bureau of Fraud Investigation. The probe began when Milton Diaz, Manager of Pioneer / Janview Food, Inc., contacted HRA because his business had suffered losses in excess of $29,000 from suspicious transactions involving EBT account credits. Investigators believe that Barbara Jones, 19, a former Pioneer / Janview Food Inc. Supermarket employee was the alleged key player of this scam.

Barbara Jones, of 1075 University Avenue, has been charged with 3 counts of Computer tampering in the 2nd degree, a class "D" felony offense, 33 counts of Computer tampering in the 3rd degree, a class "E" felony offense, 30 counts of Tampering with public records in the 1st degree, a class "D" felony offense, 1 count of Grand larceny in the 3rd degree, a class "D" felony offense, 1 count of Attempted Grand larceny in the 3rd degree, 2 counts of Grand larceny in the 4th degree, both class "E" felony offenses, and 1 count of Petit larceny. If convicted of the most serious charges of Grand larceny in the 3rd degree, Computer tampering in the 2nd degree, and Tampering with public records in the 1s t degree, the defendant faces a maximum term of up to 15 years imprisonment.

Ayesha Jones, 35, of 1135 University Avenue, a predicate felon, and the mother of Barbara Jones, has been charged with 1 count of Grand larceny in the 3rd degree, a class "D" felony offense and 1 count of Attempted Grand larceny in the 3rd degree, a class "E" felony offense. If convicted of the most serious charge, Ayesha Jones faces a maximum term of up to 7 years imprisonment.

Wylene Attaway, 37, of 1180 Lebanon Street, and Nakkia McClain, 24, of 1075 University Avenue, have each been charged with 1 count of Grand larceny in the 4th degree, a class "E" felony offense which carries a maximum sentence of up to 4 years imprisonment. Ashley Quinton, 48, of 37 West 138th Street, Manhattan, has been charged with 1 count of Petit larceny, a class "A" misdemeanor. Quinton faces a maximum term of up to 1 year imprisonment if convicted.

The scheme began on December 8, 2002 when Barbara Jones, allegedly devised a plan to credit the accounts of her co-defendants using the EBT system that must be used in conjunction with a Personal Identification Number. Barbara Jones allegedly credited co-defendant Ayesha Jones’ account between December 16, 2002 through January 17, 2003, for a total of $23,700 and attempted to credit Ayesha Jones account with another $3,700. The scheme continued as Barbara Jones allegedly continued to credit the accounts of co-defendant McClain between January 2, 2003, through January 16, 2003, totaling $2,559; co-defendant Attaway’s account on January 12, 2003, and January 15, 2003, totaling $2,000; and co-defendant Quinton’s account on January 15, 2003, with $400.

Mr. Johnson thanked Alida Mattos, First Deputy Director of the Bureau Fraud Investigation for the Human Resource Administration, and HRA’s lead investigator Thomas Toth, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, in building a case and acknowledged the cooperation of Pioneer / Janview Food Inc. Also acknowledged was Bronx District Attorney’s Office Detective Investigator Peter L. Moro, and the Detective Investigation Unit.

Assistant District Attorney Earamichia Brown of the Arson / Auto / Economic Crime Division is prosecuting this case.