A New Jersey man was arrested Oct. 20 for allegedly setting up a phony jewelry business in Port Chester and depositing nearly $1.6 million in counterfeit checks in his bank accounts.
Chidiebele “Dave” Okafor was charged with bank fraud and identity theft in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. Federal Court, White Plains.
Last year, Okafor allegedly asked a woman to set up a New York corporation using a Port Chester address and to open bank accounts in the corporation’s name. The woman is not named in the complaint but is identified as a cooperating witness.
Okafor then brought checks to the woman’s home for her to deposit in the corporation’s accounts, the complaint states, and he also had her sign checks to be drawn from the accounts. She was told that the deposits were funds from his businesses.
In February, a bank opened a counterfeit check investigation.
The bank discovered checks made out to Okafor’s corporation on four customers’ home equity credit accounts from February 1 through April 8:
- $192,000 from a New Jersey customer.
- Three checks totaling $549,000 from a West Harrison individual. One check, for $380,000, was cashed before the bank could stop the scheme.
- $408,000 from a Florida individual.
- $408,000 from two New Hampshire individuals.
The criminal complaint does not explain how Okafor allegedly gained access to the account holders’ routing numbers and other account details.
But FBI agent Carmen Cacioppo reviewed text messages and files that were exchanged between Okafor and the cooperating witness in which Okafor appears to be coaching the woman on what to say if banks questioned the deposits.
WhatsApp messages on March 1 allegedly set up a false explanations for a $380,000 deposit on the check from the West Harrison victim.
“My love if they ask me what did I sell them. What I had to say,” the witness asks.
“Goods. If they say what goods you say jewelry,” Okafor responds.
“What type of goods,” she asks.
“4 blue sapphire halo rings. … It’s 150k each.” Okafor replies, according to the complaint.
On April 16, they exchanged messages about $408,000 deposits on the accounts of the Florida and New Hampshire victims.
“It’s for payment for jewelry supply,” Okafor allegedly instructed.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy released Okafor from custody on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond cosigned by his wife and ordered him not to open any new bank accounts or credit cards.
The government is represented by assistant prosecutor Steven J. Kochevar. McCarthy appointed public defender Benjamin D. Gold to represent Okafor.
