Attorney General James Uthmeier announces charges against eight members of a huge $8.8 million bank fraud scheme targeting seniors across the country

Tallahassee, Florida – In a groundbreaking move, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has announced the indictment of eight individuals tied to a massive $8.8 million bank fraud ring. The criminals, many of whom are connected to a string of sophisticated, large-scale operations, targeted senior citizens across the country, stealing millions by exploiting personal and banking information.

The illegal operation started with three bank employees, who were employed at a bank in Maryland. These employees—Barbara Frazee, Camala Shafer, and Antonio Penn—accessed customer information, including the names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and bank account details of their clients. These valuable pieces of data were then shared and sold to other conspirators via an encrypted mobile messaging app, which allowed them to further exploit vulnerable victims.

Attorney General James Uthmeier expressed his determination to bring justice to the victims, particularly the elderly, who are often targeted by fraudsters. “Today, we announced the takedown of eight criminals who targeted seniors and stole $8.8 million from over 230 victims. They’re facing charges such as RICO, criminal use of personal information, and other serious felonies,” Uthmeier said. “I’m grateful for the hard work of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in hunting these fraudsters down. Our Office of Statewide Prosecution will now get to work and hold them accountable.”

The shocking scale of the fraud was not limited to simple theft; the criminals used the stolen information to transfer money into accounts they had opened, often disbursing the stolen funds amongst themselves. Some even used the illicit money to make extravagant purchases, such as buying new cars. The impact of this fraud ring is immense, with over 230 individuals, many of them senior citizens, affected by this scheme.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd also expressed his outrage at the complexity of the operation. “This wasn’t some small-time scam, this was a well-organized fraud ring stealing millions from innocent victims across the country,” Judd said. “They thought they could hide behind mobile apps and fake accounts, but we found them, and we’ll continue to go after anyone who targets hardworking people’s life savings. Racketeering is a serious crime, and we will pursue as many felonies as possible against each one of these suspects.”

The investigation, which involved several law enforcement agencies across state lines, has revealed the depth of the scheme and the number of players involved. Authorities tracked down the stolen funds and have since linked several individuals, many of whom have been arrested and charged with serious crimes.

The following individuals have been charged in connection to the fraud ring, and each one faces significant legal repercussions:

• Barbara Frazee, of West Virginia, is facing charges for conspiracy to commit RICO (a first-degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communication device (a third-degree felony), and accessing a computer without authorization (a third-degree felony). Frazee was apprehended in West Virginia and is currently being held in the Polk County Jail on a $260,000 bond.
• Camala Shafer, of Maryland, is charged with accessing a computer without authorization (a third-degree felony). She was released from the Polk County Jail on June 30, 2025, after posting a $10,000 bond.
• Antonio Penn, of Maryland, is facing multiple serious charges, including racketeering (a first-degree felony), conspiracy to commit RICO (a first-degree felony), organized fraud (a first-degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communication device (a third-degree felony), criminal use of personal identification information (a first-degree felony), and accessing a computer without authorization (a third-degree felony). Penn was arrested by the Maryland State Police and is being held in Polk County Jail on a bond of $1,020,000.
• Okeroghene Akushe, of Missouri, is charged with racketeering (a first-degree felony), conspiracy to commit RICO (a first-degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communication device (a third-degree felony), and criminal use of personal identification information (a first-degree felony). Akushe, with a criminal history that includes prior arrests for fraudulent use of a credit card, counterfeiting/forgery, and drug sales, is currently being held in the Polk County Jail on a $760,000 bond.
• Michael Nevarez, of Lakeland, faces charges including racketeering (a first-degree felony), conspiracy to commit RICO (a first-degree felony), organized fraud (a first-degree felony), grand theft over $20,000 (a second-degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communication device (a third-degree felony), and criminal use of personal identification information (a third-degree felony). Nevarez is being held in the Polk County Jail on a bond of $425,000.
• Roshado Durrant, of Lakeland, is charged with racketeering (a first-degree felony), two counts of conspiracy to commit RICO (a first-degree felony), organized fraud (a first-degree felony), two counts of grand theft over $20,000 (a second-degree felony), conspiracy to commit grand theft over $20,000 (a third-degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communication device (a third-degree felony), and two counts of criminal use of personal identification information (a first-degree felony). Durrant is currently being held in Polk County Jail without bond.
• Hassan Phillips, of Maryland, is facing similar charges as the other members of the ring, including racketeering (a first-degree felony), conspiracy to commit RICO (a first-degree felony), organized fraud (a first-degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communication device (a third-degree felony), and criminal use of personal identification information (a first-degree felony). Phillips was arrested in Maryland on his Polk County warrant and is being held in the Polk County Jail on a $1,010,000 bond.
• Kevin Clayton, of Lakeland, is facing charges including racketeering (a first-degree felony), conspiracy to commit RICO (a first-degree felony), organized fraud (a first-degree felony), grand theft over $20,000 (a second-degree felony), grand theft over $750 (a third-degree felony), unlawful use of a two-way communication device (a third-degree felony), and criminal use of personal identification information (a third-degree felony). Clayton was arrested in California on a Polk County warrant and is currently being held in the Polk County Jail on an ICE hold.

In addition to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, several other law enforcement agencies have played critical roles in the investigation, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Maryland State Police, Virginia State Police, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office (MD), and Florissant Police (MO). The investigation’s success highlights the power of interagency collaboration in combating complex criminal operations.

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Bureau Chief Whitney Mackay and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Kelli Llona will handle the case, and they are determined to pursue justice for the victims, who lost not only their life savings but also their peace of mind.

The case also underscores the rising dangers of financial crimes targeting vulnerable populations, particularly senior citizens, who often find themselves as prime targets for identity theft and fraud. With the perpetrators now facing serious charges, authorities are sending a strong message to those who believe they can exploit others for personal gain. Fraudulent schemes like these will not go unchecked.

As the case moves forward, victims and their families can find solace in the fact that the justice system is working to ensure those responsible will be held accountable for their actions. For those affected by similar schemes, local law enforcement encourages vigilance and immediate reporting of any suspicious activities.