An investigation into suspicious activity in Glassboro, led to the arrest of nine individual, according to police.
On Dec. 15, 2015, Rowan University reported to the Glassboro Police Department Detective Bureau that there was suspicious financial activity occurring at the 7-11 convenience store on Rowan Boulevard related to the University’s Rowan Card (Boro Bucks) debit card.
A joint investigation ultimately showed that a 7-Eleven employee (a Rowan University student) Kwadwo Brefo-Boateng, 21, of Lindenwold, was crediting his and his friends’ Boro Bucks accounts by entering numerous merchandise returns into the Rowan Card/Boro Bucks card-reader system.
Students use Rowan Card/Boro Bucks to make payments for goods and services at more than 90 vendors through Glassboro and surrounding communities. Student can deposit funds into their Boro Bucks accounts and refill those accounts, much like a traditional debit card.
With the assistance of Rowan University Police and Rowan University Card Services, eight other students were identified as receiving unauthorized returns on their Boro Bucks cards, facilitated by Mr. Brefo-Boateng. In all, the accused authorized dozens of returns resulting in approximately $35,000 in loss to the 7-11 store.
Judge Golden issued a warrant for Mr. Brefo-Boateng for theft, with bail set at $7,500 full cash. He turned himself in to Glassboro police on 1/14/16 and posted bail.
The following people were also charged with theft on warrants, with bail being set at $1,000 full cash by Judge Golden:
• Stephen Cobb, 20 yrs old of Pennsauken, NJ. Arrested on 1/14/16, posted bail and released.
• James Mack, 20 yrs old of Sicklerville, NJ. Arrested on 1/17/16, posted bail and released.
• LeaQuan James, 20 yrs old of Sicklerville, NJ. Turned himself in on 1/18/16 and was transported to the Salem County Jail.
• Malik Bard, 21 yrs old of Vineland, NJ. Turned himself in on 1/19/16, posted bail and released.
• Jamal Clark, 20 yrs old of Pine Hill, NJ. Turned himself in on 1/20/15, posted bail and released.
The following people were charged with theft and issued a summons to appear in court:
• Karina Florez, 19 yrs old of Atlantic City
• Johnel Anderson, 23 yrs old of Sicklerville
• Alim Bowden, 20 yrs old of Jersey City
*** ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ROWAN UNIVERSITY ***
• About the Rowan Card/Boro Bucks Program
Rowan University’s Card Services Office administers the Rowan Card program and works with local vendors who accept the card. Vendors have a separate card reader that is used exclusively for sales that are paid for using students’ Boro Bucks accounts. The Rowan Card is swiped in these readers, giving vendors the ability to charge the sale against a student’s refillable Boro Bucks account.
• Disciplinary Action by the University
Due to federal privacy rules protecting students, the University cannot disclose disciplinary action taken against students other than to say that they will face internal disciplinary sanctions that range based partly on their level of involvement.
• Changes Adopted
The University has adopted accounting procedures to more quickly identify nefarious activity that may occur with the Rowan Card/Boro Bucks system. The University is also working with its vendors to ensure that they adopt tighter accounting procedures.