Today, a federal grand jury in Miami brought charges against three individuals involved in an alleged bank fraud scheme. The accused, Orelien Martial Nguepi-Tankoua, Jean Paul Bayoi, and Tamblyn Milton Frasier, have been linked to activities involving a stolen U.S. Treasury check, falsified identities for illegitimate bank accounts, and subsequent money laundering operations.
In September 2021, records indicate Frasier opened a bank account in Georgia under a false identity and driver's license, allegedly provided by Bayoi. The account was aligned with a stolen $1 million U.S. Treasury check. Nguepi-Tankoua reportedly deposited the stolen check using an ATM.
Efforts to withdraw money from the fraudulent account were thwarted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury – Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service, who seized the funds.
Nguepi-Tankoua, Bayoi, and Frasier have made recent appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and were formally indicted on conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges. Each faces a potential 30-year federal prison sentence if convicted.
Announcing the indictments were U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Javan Wilson of the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Inspector General, Steven L. Hodges of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division, Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service Miami Field Office, and Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. These agencies, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rinku Tribuiani, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster leading asset forfeiture efforts.
It is important to remember that an indictment is only an allegation, and the defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Court documents related to this case are accessible on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's website or PACER, under case number 25-mj-8126.