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A Wisconsin man who allegedly organized a phone scheme that stole more than $215,000 from credit union members has been charged with multiple felonies, alongside seven others involved in the elaborate fraud operation believed to be connected to a larger criminal enterprise in Chicago, according to a Green Bay Police Department's criminal complaint.
Deandre Tyrone Mackontee, 25, of Green Bay, allegedly coordinated the scheme that stole $192,195 from members of the $3.1 billion Fox Communities Credit Union in Appleton and $23,144 from members of the $6.1 billion Community First Credit Union in Neenah, police investigators said.
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Between Oct. 17 and Nov. 19, 2024, members received a call from one of the scheme’s 27 suspects who impersonated credit union fraud prevention employees. The impersonators coerced members to provide their online username. With the username, the scammers prompted the online banking system to send a verification code to members. The members, still under the belief they were speaking to a credit union employee, shared the verification code with the scammers, giving them access to the members’ accounts. Those stolen funds were transferred to accounts held by one of the suspects, commonly referred to as “money mules,” the criminal complaint stated.
Days before the phone scheme began, investigators alleged Mackontee recruited the money mules from social media, who expressed interest in making “quick money.” He directed the money mules to open accounts at the credit unions used to deposit the stolen funds.
The money mules or their handlers quickly withdrew or moved the money through ATM transactions, additional transfers or purchases. A large portion of the stolen funds was turned over to leadership within the criminal enterprise, who then received a payment for their work, according to police investigators.
In April, Green Bay police investigators launched an undercover operation into Mackontee’s Facebook posts that were recruiting money mules to commit bank fraud. Undercover officers said Mackontee inquired about their financial institutions and requested that they provide their user name and password. He allegedly explained that once the fraudulent funds were deposited into the accounts of undercover officers, they would be required to transfer $2,000 to a designated CashApp account. Mackontee also attempted to recruit the undercover officers to open additional bank accounts for use in the scheme and encouraged them to solicit others to participate in the ongoing bank fraud operation.
On July 10, Mackontee was taken into custody and questioned by investigators. He eventually admitted to the scheme and those who orchestrated it. He suggested that he was recruited by another male and that this male acted as the intermediary between the Chicago-based organizer and local organizers, according to the criminal complaint.
Mackontee was charged with fraud against financial institutions, money laundering, organizing financial crimes and bail jumping. When he allegedly committed these crimes, Mackontee was out on bond for a previous felony charge, which led to a separate count of felony bail jumping.
Also charged with multiple counts of fraud against financial institutions and money laundering were Demetrius King Jr., 26, of Green Bay; Brad Porter, 50, of Waupun; Trivian Walton, 25, of Green Bay; Cornelius Steele, 28, of Green Bay; Stacy Swille, 42, of Green Bay; Dion Crawford, 57, of Milwaukee; and Shayne Rudolph, 51, of Green Bay.
Peter Strozniak can be reached at [email protected].
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
