Worcester Man Charged After Stealing Millions In Bank Fraud Scheme: USAO

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester man was one of six men in the state who were charged in connection with a multi-million dollar bank fraud ring, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

Selby Okai, 23, was indicted with one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He appeared in federal court in Boston on Friday morning.

The bank fraud took place from December 2022 through the present.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the group illegally obtained the names, birthdays, Social Security numbers and bank account numbers of local bank customers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The ring allegedly recruited individuals to pose as those customers, go to their banks and withdraw large sums of money. They then deposited that money into fraudulent accounts.

Okai now faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

The other five Massachusetts men who face charges are Phalentz Vernot, 24, of Waltham; Yves Bissainthe, 23, of Randolph; Marvin Kimani, 24, of Lowell; Keith Wainaina, 23, of Lowell; and Victor Kolawole, 25, of Brockton.

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