21 indicted in $89k A.C. casino check-fraud scheme

Authorities say 21 people have been indicted for their alleged roles in stealing nearly $89,000 by obtaining cash advances at Atlantic City casinos against fraudulent checks that were deposited into their bank accounts.

The plot took advantage of a TD Bank policy that makes funds available the same day a check is deposited, so the fraudsters could withdraw money before the bank realized the checks were fake, officials said.

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office identified 35-year-old Michael Williams, of Sicklerville, as the leader of the scheme.

Williams is accused of recruiting the 20 others to participate.

He would deposit phony checks, for amounts between $4,900 and $4,995, into their TD Bank accounts, according to prosecutors.

The next day - before the bank was notified that the check was bad - the account holder would withdraw the funds through a Global Cash Access cash advance at a casino in Atlantic City, prosecutors said.

The alleged cash-advance transactions happened at Bally's and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

In total, prosecutors said, the group stole $88,796 from the bank through the fraudulent transactions.

Williams "systematically exploited this bank's customer-friendly policy, stealing several thousand dollars with each person he recruited into his criminal scheme," Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said in a statement.

Williams allegedly kept much of the stolen money for himself and allowed the others to keep small shares for their participation.

Authorities began investigating after the bank detected the fraud and reported it to the New Jersey State Police.

Williams is facing charges of second-degree conspiracy, money laundering and theft by deception. The 20 others were charged with third-degree conspiracy, money laundering and theft by deception.

The others charged are: New Jersey residents Edward Smith, 31, of Clementon; Jennifer Gathers, 35, of Bridgeton; Antwan Cannon, 30, of Clementon; Armissa Williams, 37, of Lindenwold; Jose Ramos, 24, of Lindenwold; Anais Ramos, 26, of Lindenwold; Tidarat Johnson, 43, of Runnemede; Neil Miller, 65, of Clementon; Johnny Swain, 55, of Lindenwold; ; Jennifer Polidoro, 30, of Pine Hill; Mark Harley, 44, of Clementon; William Taylor, 32, of Somerdale; Lebaron Harvey, 33, of Camden; Eric Puriefoy, 51, of Berlin; Christina Honey, 30, of Pennsauken; Santa Santiago, 34, of Vineland; James Burch, 60, of Lindenwold; Barry Ettore, 54, of West Berlin; and Philadelphia residents Saleem Brown, 36, and Gail Whitner, 52.

In February, the Attorney General's Office announced charges against 46 New York City residents in a similar scheme that stole more than $204,000 from TD Bank through fraudulent cash advance withdrawals made at several Atlantic City casinos.

Contact Emily Babay at 215-854-2153 or ebabay@philly.com. Follow @emilybabay on Twitter.

Contact the Breaking News Desk at 215-854-2443 or BreakingNewsDesk@philly.com. Follow @phillydotcom on Twitter.