Summary: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. has announced the indictment of KASHAWN WILLIAMS and five co-conspirators for their involvement in a sophisticated check fraud scheme that siphoned over $1.2 million from The Bazooka Companies, known for their iconic bubble gum. The indictment charges the defendants with multiple counts of conspiracy, money laundering, and possession of stolen property, stemming from an operation that began in October 2022 when WILLIAMS intercepted a sizable check intended for Bazooka. This case underscores the ongoing challenges of financial crime in New York, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and public awareness regarding the risks associated with check fraud. The Manhattan D.A.’s office is committed to addressing these issues, as the investigation continues to unfold.
D.A. Bragg: Check Fraud Ring Indicted
For Stealing $1.2M From Bazooka Companies,
Maker Of Classic Bubble Gum
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of KASHAWN WILLIAMS, 31, for intercepting a $1.2 million check intended for The Bazooka Companies Inc. (“Bazooka”) and, alongside co-conspirators ADREAN JACOBS, 41, RONALD FRANKLIN, 49, JOSE GUTIERREZ, 25, AKHEIM WATTS, 30, and KIEARRA REYNOLDS, 35, laundering those stolen funds for personal use. The defendants are charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, Money Laundering in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, as well as various counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree and Money Laundering in the Second and/or Third Degree. WILLIAMS is additionally charged with Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Identity Theft in the First Degree.[1]
“As alleged, this group stole more than a million dollars by intercepting a check, creating a fraudulent corporate business account, and laundering the money for personal gain,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Despite the decline in the use of paper checks, check fraud is on the rise. We urge New Yorkers and businesses alike to use secure electronic payment methods whenever possible to protect themselves from fraud.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, in October 2022, WILLIAMS intercepted a $1,243,345.36 check mailed by a Texas-based company to a Manhattan address formerly associated with Bazooka, the creators of the Bazooka brand of bubble gum. On October 21, 2022, WILLIAMS incorporated a fictitious entity – The Bazooka Companies 1 Inc. (“Bazooka 1”) – to serve as a conduit for the stolen proceeds. Three days later, WILLIAMS opened a corporate bank account for Bazooka 1 and deposited the stolen check.
Over the course of the next two weeks, WILLIAMS issued checks from the Bazooka 1 account to JACOBS, WATTS, GUTIERREZ, and REYNOLDS, listing fake reasons for the checks on their memo lines, such as “Renovations,” “Business Loan,” and “Packaging Preorder.” The defendants then deposited these checks into their personal bank accounts and made large cash withdrawals.
WILLIAMS personally withdrew more than $102,600 in cash from the Bazooka 1 account between November 4, 2022, and November 14, 2022. He also transferred $250,000 from the Bazooka 1 corporate account to his personal Chase account, before laundering it by moving the majority to a personal Capital One account, where he proceeded to withdraw more than $159,000 in cash.
Additionally, the defendants laundered more than $57,000 through cashier’s checks remitted to FRANKLIN. FRANKLIN negotiated for a series of cashier’s checks from the defendants in November 2022, including $32,000 of cashier checks from WILLIAMS through the Bazooka 1 corporate account, and a $25,000 check from JACOBS’ personal account. The investigation into the check fraud ring is ongoing.
Assistant D.A.s Shrey Sharma and Ishan Shivakumar of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau (“MECB”) are handling the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Christine Payne (Deputy MECB Chief) and Michael Ohm (MECB Chief), as well as Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division). The investigation was jointly conducted with Assistant D.A. Andrew Mercer under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Christopher Prevost (Deputy Chief of the Trial Division). Rosalind October (Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit), Padraig Friel (Major Case Analyst), Tattnall Holt (Investigative Analyst), Rohaan Vaswani (Investigative Analyst), Kayla Hayman (Paralegal), Christian Bethea (Paralegal), and Investigators David Caban and Justin Reid all provided valuable assistance with the investigation.
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
October 3, 2024 Manhattan District Attorney’s Office Manhattan, New York
Key Questions from Republicans and Democrats
on Recent Check Fraud Indictment in Manhattan
Republican Critics’ Questions:
- How will the Manhattan District Attorney ensure that similar check fraud schemes are prevented in the future, especially with the rise of electronic payments?
- What measures are being taken to hold all co-conspirators accountable, and will this case lead to stricter penalties for financial crimes?
- How does this indictment reflect on the current administration’s ability to effectively tackle organized crime in New York?
Democratic Critics’ Questions:
- What specific resources and strategies will the Manhattan District Attorney’s office implement to combat the increasing trend of financial fraud?
- How can we enhance public awareness about the risks of check fraud and promote secure payment methods to protect small businesses?
- Will this case highlight the need for better cooperation between state and federal agencies in investigating complex financial crimes?
Sources: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office , Midtown Tribune
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