18 charged, more pending in Burlington County check-kiting probe

Eighteen suspects in an alleged check-kiting scheme in Burlington County are charged with fleecing 12 banks for a potential total of more than $300,000. More arrests are anticipated.

The Wednesday arrests were announced Thursday by Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi, Sheriff Jean Stanfield and Pemberton Township Police Chief David Jantas.

Investigators who devoted the better part of two years to the probe allege that they opened multiple accounts, artificially inflating balances by depositing checks drawn from closed, overdrawn or non-existent accounts.

Authorities said that the operation resulted in a loss to the banks of $107,563, but that the institutions faced an additional exposure, or potential loss, of about $247,000.

Facing second-degree counts of theft by deception and conspiracy are:

Aryka Thomas, 20, and Tyler Porter, 22, Eastampton; Carol Drayton, 29, Shardai Williams, 25, and Issiah Williams, 28, Mount Holly; Ciara Buran, 21, Donte Boyer II, 27, Jose Santos, 24, Rajik Morphis, 33, Leticia Mendoza-Rivera, 23, and Shameka Scribner, 21, all of Browns Mills; Divine Young, 23, Wrightstown; Emory Lester, 28, Maple Shade; Jamila Lawrence, 23, Taheem Blakemore, 25, Talya Blakemore, 24, all of Burlington City; Shanetta Irvin, 45, Pemberton.

Shameka Scribner and Tyler Porter also face second-degree counts of elements of computer theft and conspiracy. Shameka Scribner and Leticia Mendoza-Rivera are additionally charged with third-dgree theft by deception and fourth-degree criminal-attempt theft by deception. Shameka Scribner also faces an additional third-detree therft by deception count.

Shamika Scribner's bail was set at $100,000, with no option for release on payment of 10 percent. Other bail amounts ranged between $35,000 and $45,000, with 10-percent options.

Two arrests unrelated to the fraud probe were completed during the sweep. Cajid Ceruti, 26, Pemberton, faces five counts related to drug and weapons possession. A 26-year-old Burlington City man was booked on municipal warrants.

Investigators took noice in November 2014, when American Express "Bluebird" checks credited to Shameka Scribner's account surfaced in banks and businesses throughout Burlington County, according to Bernardi's office.

Valid Bluebird checks guarantee payment, but the checks on her account were dishonored.

Detectives alleged that the members of the group also deposited each other's checks, which were also rejected.

Involved in the sweep were police from Burlington City, Maple Shade, Mount Holly, Pemberton Borough and Township, the Burlington County Sheriff's warrant squad, and the U.S. Marshals Service New York-New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.