Kani Bassie and Jermon Brooks have entered guilty pleas in connection to a multi-million-dollar bank fraud conspiracy. The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI.
Bassie, 36, from Brooklyn, New York, and Brooks, 20, from Richmond, Virginia, acknowledged their roles in a scheme that involved defrauding financial institutions nationwide. They obtained personal identifying information (PII) of individuals and directed lower-level workers to impersonate these identity-theft victims for fraudulent banking transactions. Both Bassie and Brooks supervised operations that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being withdrawn illegally across the country.
The conspiracy is said to be led by Oluwaseun Adekoya, a Nigerian citizen who is facing trial starting June 9, 2025. He faces multiple charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering conspiracy. As noted by United States Attorney Sarcone: “And then there was one... We look forward to trial."
The FBI's involvement was highlighted by Special Agent Tremaroli: “The FBI takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud for personal gain."
This prosecution follows an investigation initiated after arrests were made in May 2022 involving David Daniyan and others who attempted bank fraud in the Capital Region. To date, over $2 million in fraudulent transactions have been identified with thirteen defendants having pled guilty.
At sentencing later this year, Bassie and Brooks face up to 30 years for bank fraud conspiracy; Bassie also faces up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy; both face a mandatory two-year term for aggravated identity theft. Restitution payments will be ordered alongside post-incarceration supervision.
The case is investigated by FBI Albany with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies across several states. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark, Mathew M. Paulbeck, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting.