By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in NJ reported that a Camden County man admitted to participating in schemes to negotiate fraudulent checks with forged signatures and to use credit cards without authorization.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced that Emmanuel Yirenkyi, 29, of Pine Hill, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of access device fraud conspiracy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Authorities say Yirenkyi conspired with Misty Sarfo-Adu, Eugene Koranteng, and others to commit bank fraud by obtaining blank checks containing the names and account information of unsuspecting customers of a credit card company.
They made the checks payable to members of the conspiracy, forged the customers’ signatures on the checks, and negotiated the checks at financial institutions, officials stated.
According to officials, in a separate scheme, Yirenkyi and Sarfo-Adu also conspired to use credit cards without the account holder’s knowledge or authorization.
Yirenkyi admitted that the fraud schemes caused a loss to the credit card company of more than $150,000, officials say.
Officials said The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, and the count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2024, according to officials.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger stated Sarfo-Adu previously pleaded guilty before Judge Kugler to his participation in the same conspiracies.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28, 2023, and remains charged by complaint.
