Latest news with #Rowser
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Alabama men sentenced in conspiracy to sell stolen checks, sensitive bank account information
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – Prim F. Escalona, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, announced on Wednesday that a group of men who were part of a conspiracy to sell stolen checks and bank login information have been sentenced for their crimes. The defendants included the administrators of multiple scam Telegram channels, a former U.S. Postal employee who received bribes to steal checks from the mail, and a credit union employee who misappropriated customer account information. Among those sentenced this week were: Joshua Kendarius Rogers, aka 'Lucky Luciano,' 24, of Irondale–Rogers was an administrator of a Telegram channel called 'The Lucky Shop,' which sold stolen checks and bank login information. Rogers was sentenced to 90 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to pay bribes, one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Rogers pleaded guilty to the charges yesterday. Michael Christopher Rowser, aka 'Muney Mike,' 24, of McCalla.–Rowser abused his position as a U.S. Postal employee by taking bribes to steal checks that were sold on 'The Lucky Shop' channel. Rowser was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to receive bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. A federal jury convicted Rowser of those charges in January. Duane Wiley Smith, aka 'Dubskii,' 24, of Springville–Smith was an administrator of 'The Lucky Shop' and similar channels called 'Glass House Records' and 'Glass House Records V2.' Smith was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Smith pleaded guilty to those charges in October 2024. Levar McGhee-Parrish, aka 'Ja Moracks,' 25, of Fultondale–McGhee-Parrish was an administrator of 'The Lucky Shop' and a similar channel called 'GRUBHUB.' McGhee-Parrish was sentenced to 40 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. McGhee-Parrish pleaded guilty to the charge in March. According to court documents, 'The Lucky Shop' operated as a criminal marketplace. Rogers, its primary administrator, obtained stolen checks from Rowser, a mail handler at the U.S. Postal Service's Processing & Distribution Center in Birmingham, and then posted redacted copies of those checks on the channel to market them for sale. When customers of 'The Lucky Shop' paid Rogers to purchase stolen checks, a portion of their profits would be kicked back to Rowser. The evidence established that Rowser received approximately $106,000 in bribe payments over the course of a year for his role supplying checks to the Telegram channel. In addition to stolen checks, Rogers also sold bank login information, which he obtained from a corrupt credit union employee. Smith and McGhee-Parrish assisted Rogers with the administration of 'The Lucky Shop,' but also had their own Telegram channels where they sold stolen checks to scammers looking to commit bank fraud. Beyond that, Smith and McGhee-Parrish worked with Rogers and others to commit bank fraud—depositing fraudulent checks, submitting fraudulent loan applications, initiating fraudulent Automated Clearing House transfers, and using stolen passcodes to withdraw funds from ATMs. This case was brought as part of a crackdown on scam Telegram channels operating out of the Northern District of Alabama. Other defendants who have been prosecuted in related cases include Mekhi Diwone Harris, who ran a Telegram channel called 'Work Related,' and Gabriel Samuel Odiot, who ran a Telegram channel called 'RICH OFF PLAYS.' Together, these channels are responsible for the sale of tens of millions of dollars in stolen checks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
4 sentenced for selling stolen checks, bank login information in Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Four people were sentenced for being part of a conspiracy to sell stolen checks and bank login information, according to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona on Wednesday. Joshua Rogers, 24, of Irondale, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to pay bribes, one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Michael Rowser, 24, of McCalla, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to receive bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Duane Smith, 24, of Springville, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Levar McGhee-Parrish, 25, of Fultondale, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Birmingham postal employee convicted for supplying checks to telegram scam channel 'The Lucky Shop' was a scam Telegram channel dedicated to the sale of stolen checks and bank login information, according to court documents. Its primary administrator, Rogers, obtained stolen checks from Rowser and then posted redacted copies of those checks on the channel to market them for sale. When customers paid Rogers to purchase stolen checks, a portion of their profits would go to Rowser. Rogers also sold bank login information, which he obtained from a credit union employee. Smith and McGhee-Parrish assisted Rogers with the administration of 'The Luck Shop,' but also had their own Telegram channels. Smith's channels were called 'Glass House Records,' and 'Glass House Records V2,' while McGhee-Parrish's channel was named 'GRUBHUB.' They would sell stolen checks to scammers looking to commit bank fraud. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mobile defendants sentenced to life in prison for murder-for-hire conspiracy
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — An investigation into a murder-for-hire conspiracy led to four shootings, five arrests and one intended victim. As testimony indicated, it was a coordinated effort to commit a revenge killing. WCSO deputy killed in line of duty during shooting in Mossy Head John Fitzgerald McCarroll Jr., 31, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 21, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 31, each of Mobile, have been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of a murder-for-hire conspiracy in October 2024, according to a press release from the Southern District of Alabama's United States Attorney's Office. The release stated court documents and evidence presented during the three-week trial showed a coordinated effort to commit a revenge killing against a specific target. 'As part of the murder plot, McCarroll hired several shooters who attempted but failed to killthe intended target of the plot during multiple nightclub shootings,' the release stated. According to testimony, McCarroll gave a gun to Reginald Fluker, who fired into the Bank Nightlife club in Mobile. Investigators reported that Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died. Hollis allegedly paid Fluker before and after the failed Bank Nightlife shooting. Fluker pleaded guilty to conspiracy and will serve 30 years in prison. In November 2022, investigators said McCarroll provided Rowser with an illegal machine gun to shoot the target inside the Paparazzi Lounge in downtown Mobile. Rowser missed the intended target but hit four other people, paralyzing one of the victims. Just two months before, investigators said McCarroll told Rowser to go to Mississippi to steal a car that they would use in the murder plot. Prosecutors said Rowser shot and killed a victim during the carjacking in D'Iberville. Rowser and his accomplice, Karmelo Derks, then traveled back to Mobile to burn the stolen vehicle. Derks pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen car and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Prosecutors said that McCarroll instructed Rowser, Derks, and 21-year-old Jimaurice Pierce in December 2022 to go to the Walmart off I-65 Service Road South in Mobile. They were told to purchase a GPS tracker that would eventually be put on the target's vehicle. Orange Beach businesses face uncertain future with proposed beach-based business ban Both Rowser and Pierce brought into the Walmart modified machine guns and fired into the self-checkout area, resulting in hurting two victims. Pierce pleaded guilty to the murder-for-the-hire conspiracy, but he has not yet been sentenced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
