Eight Arrested in $8.8 Million Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly Victims Across the U.S.

POLK COUNTY, FL – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested eight individuals in connection to a wide-reaching fraud operation that stole nearly $8.8 million from 235 victims nationwide, most of whom were elderly. The scheme, which spanned multiple states, involved stolen banking information, illegal money transfers, and the use of encrypted messaging apps to sell personal data.

The investigation began in April 2023 after Synchrony Bank detected suspicious activity linked to a newly opened account in Lakeland. Detectives traced the activity to Michael Nevarez, 27, and uncovered a network involving multiple suspects across Florida, Maryland, Missouri, and West Virginia.

The fraud ring obtained stolen account data from three bank employees in Maryland: Barbara Frazee, Camala Shafer, and Antonio Penn. Evidence revealed the employees used their positions to access customer data, which Penn then sold via Telegram. He shared this information with former college football teammate Okeroghene Akushe, who profited by distributing the data to others involved in the scheme.

Polk County detectives worked with agencies including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, DEA HIDTA Task Force, Maryland State Police, Virginia State Police, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, and Florissant Police Department (MO) to arrest all suspects, who are now being held in the Polk County Jail.

Arrested and Charged:

• Barbara Frazee (WV) – Conspiracy to commit RICO, access computer without authorization, unlawful use of communication device.
• Camala Shafer (MD) – Access computer without authorization.
• Antonio Penn (MD) – Racketeering, conspiracy to commit RICO, organized fraud, unlawful use of communication device, criminal use of ID, access computer without authorization.
• Okeroghene Akushe (MO) – Racketeering, conspiracy to commit RICO, unlawful use of communication device, criminal use of ID.
• Michael Nevarez (Lakeland) – Racketeering, conspiracy to commit RICO, organized fraud, grand theft, unlawful use of communication device, criminal use of ID.
• Roshado Durrant (Lakeland) – Racketeering, conspiracy to commit RICO (2 counts), organized fraud, grand theft (2 counts), conspiracy to commit grand theft, unlawful use of communication device, criminal use of ID (2 counts).
• Hassan Phillips (MD) – Racketeering, conspiracy to commit RICO, organized fraud, unlawful use of communication device, criminal use of ID.
• Kevin Clayton (Lakeland) – Racketeering, conspiracy to commit RICO, organized fraud, grand theft (2 counts), unlawful use of communication device, criminal use of ID.

All suspects face felony charges, including RICO violations, and are being held on high bonds or ICE holds. The total amount of funds unlawfully accessed during the investigation was $8,842,398.25.