Three Nigerians have been busted in connection to a
large-scale credit card scheme that allegedly used two southwest Houston
businesses to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to court
records, Shalewa Olayinka, 53, applied for and obtained 116 credit cards from
eight different financial institutions in 12 other people's names. He would
allegedly apply for the credit card using a victim's information and then steal
the card out of his or her mailbox when the card arrived.
Financial crimes investigators say Olayinka had a
Square card reader attached to his cell phone under the business name
"Sleek Auto Sales" and would run the fraudulent credit cards in his
southwest Houston apartment. The money was then deposited into his bank account.
He conspired with two local business owners, Christy
Tifase who owns Lagos Island Café on Highway 6 South, a west African food
restaurant and Maxwell Ezenwa whoowns Lace Warehouse and African Fashions
on Bissonnet. They're accused of also running the credit cards for payments at
their businesses.
Investigators say the operation stole more than
$650,000.All three face a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity, a
felony. When Eyewitness News went to Lagos Island Café, Tifase's daughter said
she wasn't aware of the allegation against her mother. Tifase is expected to
surrender. Olayinka remains in jail on a $30,000 bond. Ezenwa is out of jail on
bond.
Source: abc13.com
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