Five people were recently charged in Gwinnett County in two separate fraud attempts at a Peachtree Corners bank totaling $420,000.
According to a press release from the Gwinnett County Police Department, the investigation began after two men attempted to fraudulently transfer $250,000 from a business account at a Bank of America in Peachtree Corners on May 18, 2023. The agency previously told AccessWDUN that the fraud attempt was halted before the suspects could obtain the money.
The two suspects in the May 18 fraud attempt were identified as Carlos Garcia, 50, of Marietta, and John Barber, 59, of Dunwoody.
During the investigation, detectives discovered another large fraud had taken place at the same bank on May 5. The agency said the suspect in that instance, Tyler Felty, 32, of Goshen, Indiana, fraudulently obtained $170,000. The money was transferred to an account belonging to Mercedes Watson, 33, of Morrow.
Detectives later determined the two crimes were coordinated by the same person, Mathaniel Worthy, 34.
"Security footage, digital evidence, and statements made during interviews with the suspects’, showed Worthy was coordinating, transporting, and facilitating the thefts and money laundering," the release said.
29 arrest warrants were obtained for the five suspects, including the following:
- Carlos Garcia: Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Records and reports of currency transactions (Money Laundering), Theft by Deception, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Identity Fraud.
- John Barber: Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Records and reports of currency transactions (Money Laundering), Theft by Deception, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Identity Fraud.
- Tyler Felty: Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Records and reports of currency transactions (Money Laundering), Theft by Deception, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Identity Fraud.
- Mercedes Watson: Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Records and reports of currency transactions (Money Laundering), Theft by Receiving, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Identity Fraud.
- Mathaniel Worthy: Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Records and reports of currency transactions (Money Laundering) (Two Counts), Theft by Deception (Two Counts), Conspiracy to Commit a Felony (Two Counts), Identity Fraud (Two Counts).
The Gwinnett County Police Department says further investigation into other members of the organized enterprise is still ongoing.
