WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A central Texas criminal group used the stolen identities of more than 50 people to extract more than $200,000 in fraudulent loans from financial companies, an affidavit alleges.
Talemus Ramone Conway, 48, Trisha Ann McCoy, 35, Danny Scott Johnson, 41, and Caleb Scott Johnson, 22, each have organized criminal activities. He has been charged with being involved in.
In September 2024, according to the affidavit, authorities met with the chief security officer of Select Management Resources, which oversees Lone Star Loan’s security operations, and authorities learned that a group was He said he was informed that Title Loan stores were being targeted.
The group used compromised or stolen personal information and presented it to Conway, who at the time was an employee of Lone Star Title Company and part of the criminal group, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, an initial investigation led authorities to believe that Caleb Johnson, Danny Johnson and McCoy used 19 stolen identities to make 20 fraudulent title loans totaling $28,000. He was convinced that he had obtained it.
While reviewing video footage from June 24, 2024, Caleb Johnson is seen speaking with Conway and using a false identity to obtain a $550 title loan, the affidavit states. It is stated that
Authorities believe Caleb Johnson received one-third of the fraudulent loans, according to the affidavit.
Video footage shows a similar incident occurred on July 8, 2024, when McCoy used a stolen identity to obtain a $650 fraudulent loan from Conway, the affidavit states. .
McCoy obtained five vehicle title loans and told authorities that everyone who participated in the scheme received one-third of the value of the fraudulent loans they helped obtain, according to the affidavit.
After further review of the evidence, authorities determined that Danny Johnson was the ringleader of the criminal operation, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Danny Johnson would provide the vehicle title and stolen identity to the runner and arrange with Conway to make the fraudulent loan.
The affidavit alleges that Danny Johnson contacted and transported McCoy, Caleb Johnson, and other runners who have not yet been identified.
Authorities also believe Danny Johnson received one-third of the total loan amount, according to the affidavit.
On Oct. 17, 2024, authorities received a letter from the chief security officer saying that Lone Star Title Loans conducted a further investigation into fraudulent title loans associated with the group, resulting in a total of 116 fraudulent loans. Additional information was received indicating that the amount was obtained and that the amount was equivalent to the total amount. $219,754.78.
Additionally, the number of stolen personal information used in criminal activity now exceeds 50, the affidavit states.
Conway is being held in the McLennan County Jail on a $75,000 bond and McCoy is being held on a total bond of $32,500.
More local content: Whitney man who thought girlfriend was poisoned with anthrax sentenced to 45 years in prison for assault
Copyright 2024 KWTX. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
