Bronx Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Targeting Credit Unions

Press Release

Victor Barriera Admits He Fraudulently Withdrew Over $148,000 from Other People's Accounts

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Victor Barriera, age 63, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty yesterday to his role in a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted credit unions all over the country since at least December 2021. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Barriera admitted that between at least December 2021 and April 2023, he was a member of a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted credit unions insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. Many of the credit unions were members of a shared branching network, which allowed customers of member credit unions to withdraw funds from their accounts at other member credit unions by presenting an identification with their photograph, their account number, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. The network was designed to allow customers of localized credit unions easier access to their accounts when traveling throughout the country. Barriera admitted that the conspirators exploited this network by creating fake identifications in the names of real credit union customers, but with photographs of other individuals, including Barriera, who conducted fraudulent transactions at shared branch member credit unions all over the country in exchange for drugs or a small portion of the stolen funds.

Barriera pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. In total, Barriera, admitted to successfully withdrawing at least $148,352 and attempting to fraudulently obtain an additional $15,000 while working as a member of the conspiracy.

When Barriera is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino on August 22, 2024, he faces up to 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a fine of up to $1 million. Barriera will also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes in the amount of $148,352. Barriera has also agreed to forfeit $10,000 in U.S. currency seized by Cohoes Police Department in May 2022 when Barriera was arrested with codefendants David Daniyan and Gaysha Kennedy after being caught attempting to defraud a local credit union.

The following defendants still have charges pending in this case:

• Oluwaseun Adekoya, age 38, of New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;

• David Daniyan, age 59, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;

• Gaysha Kennedy, age 45, of Brooklyn, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud;

• Danielle Cappetti, age 45, of the Bronx, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;

• Lesley Lucchese, age 53, of Brooklyn, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft;

• Jerjuan Joyner, age 49, of Brooklyn, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud;

• Akeem Balogun, 53, of Brooklyn, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. These defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The bank fraud conspiracy charges carry a maximum term of 30 years' incarceration and each aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory term of 2 years, to be imposed consecutive to any prison term imposed on the bank fraud charge.

FBI Albany is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in New York and Newark, and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, the New York State Police; Cohoes Police Department; Colonie Police Department; Elmira Police Department; Corning Police Department; Plattsburgh Police Department; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office and Escambia County Sheriff's Office; law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire, including the Rochester Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Amherst Police Department; the Norwich, CT Police Department; law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts, including the Springfield, MA Police Department; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Delaware State Police; and law enforcement agencies in Maryland, including the Harford County Sheriff's Office and Baltimore County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.

Updated April 23, 2024