NY Gangster scammers undone by social media photos

New York detectives noticed that members of Brooklyn’s Woo street gang were posting photos of themselves on social media from luxurious locations that weren't Brooklyn. Detectives were able to match the background of at least one of the homes with an Airbnb listing in California. Cops and federal agents combed through bank records, tracing various withdrawals that were financing the gangster's new lifestyles. They soon discovered that the gang used false names to file for benefits through a federal COVID relief program. 800 false identities filed nearly 1,000 unemployment claims, stealing at least $4.3 million.

Romean Brown, Tyrek Clarke, Kennith Desir, Stephan Dorminvil, Kai Heyward, Keith James, Oneal Marks, Jahriah Olivierre, Christopher Jean Pierre, Roleeke Smith, and Christopher Topey carried out the scheme between March 2020 and October 2021. Arrests occured hours before the body of Woo gangster and rapper TDott Woo, 22, was borne past his Brooklyn home. He was shot dead on Feb. 1, the day he signed a recording contract with Million Dollar Music.