2003-06-25 -- "Black Money Scam" -- Indictment -- News Release

Four African Immigrants Indicted for Role in "Black Money Scam" Conspiracy

NEWARK - Three African immigrants living in Newark were arrested earlier this month and arraigned today on charges that they participated in a complex fake counterfeiting conspiracy known to federal law enforcement as a "Black Money Scam," U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The four men, Jean Wabo, 33, Jacques Taphehon, 51, and Rostand Tchinda, 29, all of Cameroon, and Assani Mara, 39, of Mali, are charged in a one-count Indictment with conspiracy to sell fictitious currency, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard E. Constable III.

Jean Wabo is currently a fugitive.

Each of the defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy count. In addition, Jean Wabo, Assani Mara, Jacques Taphehon and Rostand Tchinda, could also be ordered to pay thousands in restitution and the costs of their prosecution.

The three defendants, who were arraigned before U.S. District Judge Faith Hochberg, are being detained in federal custody. They all pleaded not guilty today to the charges against them.

In a separate, unrelated case, Bernard Mbu Tabala, 32, Prosper Essmoba, 36, Thierry Nkomo, 29, all of New York, were arrested late yesterday in a sting operation by Special Agents of the FBI and the Postal Inspection Service, and charged in a Criminal Complaint with executing a similar scheme to sell fictitious currency. Those defendants made initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Donald Haneke. Their detention hearings will be held Mon., June 30 at 10:00 before Judge Haneke.

The Indictment of Wabo, Mara, Taphehon and Tchinda details the "Black Money Scam," which originated in West Africa, and numerous instances, between September 2002 and December 2002, in which the defendants attempted to defraud Newark residents. The Indictment was returned in early June and unsealed when the defendants were arrested.

Among the allegations are that:

• Defendants devised a complex fraudulent scheme, called the African "Black Money Scam," where they would convince unsuspecting individuals in Newark and elsewhere that the defendants could transfer the image of $20 or $100 bills (U.S. currency) onto white pieces of paper cut in the shape and form of U.S. currency.

• As part of the scheme, targeted victims would be shown two white strips of paper which were cut in the shape and form of U.S. currency. The victims would be told that the two strips of paper were in fact actual Treasury paper from which "real" U.S. currency was made.

•Iodine-based chemicals and or powder would be placed on the two strips of paper, causing the white strips of paper to turn a very dark color-almost Black, hence the name "Black Money Scam." The victims would be asked to provide a real $20 or $100 bill, which would then be sandwiched between the two (now dark) strips of paper. The dark color would be washed away with water and/or chemicals, revealing two $20 or $100 bills that looked identical to real U.S. currency.

• The defendants represented to victims that the $20 or $100 bills purported to be created from the formerly white strips of paper were "real" U.S. currency. In truth, however, through slight of hand, the original two white strips of paper were switched and replaced with real U.S. currency coated in a chemical and/or powder solution. Thus, when "washed," real U.S. currency would be revealed.

The Indictment details four instances in which the defendants allegedly used the African "Black Money Scam" to defraud or attempt to defraud Newark residents. In one instance, the defendants were able to dupe a victim into giving them $5,000 in cash. In another, which led to the arrest of two unnamed coconspirators, the African Black Money Scam was demonstrated to an undercover FBI agent posing as a Newark businessman.

Victims are encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney's Office, 973-645-2700, with any further information pertaining to these or other related schemes.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Louie F. Allen for developing the cases. Christie also thanked Special Agents from the Newark Field Office of the Dept. of Homeland Security, Secret Service, under the direction of Jan Gilhooly as well as Special Agents of the Newark Field Office of the Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Martin Phanco. He also thanked the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Customs, for their work in the case.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Constable, of the U.S. Attorney's Violent Crimes Unit.

Defense Counsel :

Assani Mara: Robert Rey Esq. Morristown

Jacques Taphehon: Robert Fettweis, Esq. Newark

Rostand Tchinda: Richard Phillips, Newark

Attorneys from the Office of the Public Defender represented Bernard Mbu Tabala, Prosper Essmoba, and Thierry Nkomo in court today.