My Philly Daily And Broad + Liberty On Crime Column On The Philly DA Charging Five For Utility Bill Scam

Philly Daily & Broad + Liberty ran my On Crime column on the Philadelphia DA charging five defendants for a utility bill scam.

You can read the column via the link or the below text:

Paul Davis: Philly DA charges five in utility bill scam  

It is a sad commentary, but some senior citizens, after working hard all of their lives and enjoying their golden years, are becoming victimized by ruthless and heartless scam artists.

One particularly nefarious scam that is being perpetrated against the elderly is the utility bill scam. In this scam, crooks impersonate gas, electric or water company representatives and steal information and money from unsuspecting senior citizens.   

Thankfully, a group of these suspected scam artists are meeting justice in Philadelphia.

On May 21^st, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Elder Justice Unit and law enforcement partners announced charges against five defendants for identity theft and other charges stemming from a utility bill scam.

“The five defendants are charged for their roles in an expansive and organized scheme that defrauded at least 150 seniors — a majority of the victims Black women — of more than $500,000 in Northwest and Southwest Philadelphia since June 2024. The oldest victim is 90-years-old,” the DA Office stated.

The DA Office charged Defendants Detoine Darryl Davis (DOB: 10/10/1984), Winston A. Haynes (DOB: 11/20/1994), Michael Turner (DOB: 11/27/1981), Anthony Ringgold (DOB: 06/20/1982), and Mark Chappell (DOB: 08/2819/86) with the following:

• Conspiracy (F1)
• Corrupt Organizations (F1)
• Dealing with Proceeds of Unlawful Activity (F1)
• Identity Theft (F2)
• Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition  (F3) 
• Theft by Deception (F3)
• Receiving Stolen Property (F3)
• Theft of Mail (F3)
• Forgery (F3)
• Access Device Fraud (F3)
• Criminal Use of Communication Facility (F3)
• Unlawful Use of Computer (F3)
• Securing Execution of Documents by Deception (M2)
• Impersonating Public Employee (M2)

According to the DA Office, these five defendants, in concert with others, were involved in an extensive fraud scheme by which they contacted older adults, impersonating a representative of a bank or a public utility, like the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO), Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), or the Water Department. The defendants then claimed that there was a problem with the victim’s account before a member of the conspiracy would go to the victim’s home and obtain their bank account information, debit cards, and pin under the guise of fixing the problem. The defendants then stole from the victims’ accounts and made unauthorized withdrawals. Further investigation found the stolen funds were used for money orders, personal purchases, and deposits into their own accounts.

The DA Office noted that their law enforcement partners executed search warrants and police confiscated cash, an AR-15 firearm, cellphones and computers, debit cards, bank statements, and money order receipts. Investigators froze the accounts that received the stolen funds.

The DA Office stated that this is an active and ongoing investigation with complaints from more than 35 victims with the total documented theft at around $500,000. investigation.

Anthony Ringgold and Winston Haynes are both being held on $1.8 million bail, while Michael Turner and Mark Chappell are both being held on $5.4 million bail. Defendant Detoine Davis is in the hospital and has not yet been arraigned.

“While the public discourse is often around gun violence in Philadelphia, crimes against seniors are very troubling and disturbing. These defendants set out to steal the hard-earned resources of dozens of elder citizens, traumatizing the individuals and our communities,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner. “Our Elder Justice Unit is committed to holding accountable any defendants who prey upon our city’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Assistant District Attorney Alex Blumenthal, Supervisor of DAO’s Elder Justice Unit, added, “Any older Philadelphian who believes they might have been scammed through this scheme or any other crime is encouraged to contact the Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team Hotline at 215-686-5710. There is no reason to be ashamed. The only way to stop these individuals from harming others is to report these incidents to the proper authorities so that we can take action.”

Assistant District Attorney Gillian Dagress stated, “I’d like to thank our law enforcement partners with the Philadelphia Police Department’s Northwest and Southwest Detective Divisions, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the US Postal Inspectors on the investigation and arrests,” said “This investigation was complex and only happened due to the outstanding collaboration between all parties. We are continuing to investigate and expect to make additional arrests of co-conspirators.”

Elder fraud is a national law enforcement concern that is investigated by the FBI.

“The mission of the FBI is "to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States". Elder Fraud is considered fraudulent activity targeting individuals aged 60 or older. As part of the FBI's mission, the FBI pursues ways to combat criminals targeting seniors in alignment with internal and external partnerships through the Department of Justice's Elder Fraud Initiative,” the FBI stated. “Through IC3, the FBI has created a public avenue for seniors to report fraud. IC3 receives and tracks thousands of complaints daily. IC3 reporting is key to identifying, investigating, and holding these criminal actors accountable for their actions.

“If you, or someone you know, is a victim of a fraud or scam, file a complaint with the IC3.”

Home Page - Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

According to the FBI, below is what to do if you or someone you know are targeted by fraud:

1.     Contact Your Bank

Contact your bank and other financial institutions to safeguard your accounts. If wire transfers were sent, request a recall and a hold harmless letter from your financial institutions. Protect Your Credit

Safeguard your credit by contacting the three major credit bureaus:

·         Equifax (800-685-1111)

·         Experian (888-397-3742)

·         TransUnion (888-909-8872)

·          

2.     Report It to Authorities

Contact your local authorities and file a report with www.ic3.gov. If you believe your identity was stolen, also file a report at www.identitytheft.gov.

File An Elder Fraud Complaint

If you need assistance in filing with the IC3, help is available through the Elder Fraud Hotline. Contact them at (833) FRAUD-11 or (833) 372-8311, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET.

 

I would add that adult children should check on their elderly parents to ensure that they are not being victimized by crooks.

Paul Davis’s On Crime column appears here every week. He is also a contributor to Broad + Liberty and Counterterrorism magazine. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com.