In July 2023, Gwinnett County Police reported that two individuals had attempted to fraudulently transfer $250,000 from a business account at a Bank of America in Peachtree Corners.
The alleged incident happened on May 18, 2023. Two individuals entered the Bank of America at 5500 Peachtree Pkwy and presented false information about their identities. One of the men claimed to be the owner of a local recycling operation and tried to transfer $250,000 from the bank account of that business.
The attempted transfer was disrupted during the security process check.
The two suspects in this crime have been identified as 50-year-old Carlos Garcia of Marietta and 59-year-old John Barber of Dunwoody.
Detectives on the case discerned that another, very significant, fraud had taken place at the same Bank of America location on May 5, 2023.
32-year-old Tyler Felty of Indiana was eventually identified as the suspect in the related incident. Felty illegally transferred $170,000 to an account registered to 33-year-old Mercedes Watson of Morrow.
Investigators have now determined that both of these thefts were orchestrated by the same person, 34-year-old Mahaniel Worthy.
After interviewing suspects and examining security footage and digital evidence, authorities determined Worthy was responsible for the coordinating, transporting, and facilitating of the thefts, and that he engaged in money laundering.
The RICO charges for each individual stem from their alleged participation in “racketeering activity for the purpose of furthering the criminal enterprise” according to a an update on the case issued Dec. 6, 2023.
This update reports that a total of 29 arrest warrants have been obtained for this case, which resulted in the following charges against this alleged organized crime ring:
- 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).
This investigation is ongoing; other individuals are suspected to be involved.
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