🚨💰 SIX PEOPLE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED $1.7 MILLION FRAUD SCHEME 💰🚨
Six people from three states face theft charges for allegedly stealing $1.7 million from a Fairfield HVAC company through a fraudulent email scheme. Investigators tracked the stolen money across several bank accounts after the suspects compromised the business's communications.
📍 FAIRFIELD, NJ — Six people from New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia have been charged following an investigation into the alleged theft of approximately $1.7 million from a Fairfield-based HVAC wholesale company.
The Fairfield Police Department said the investigation began on February 18, 2026, when the company’s owner reported a fraud that allegedly occurred in January.
According to police, the company’s Microsoft account was compromised after employees received fraudulent emails that appeared to come from one of the company’s legitimate business partners.
Investigators allege the suspects used the compromised account to intercept and manipulate email communications before providing fraudulent banking information to the company.
As a result, approximately $1.7 million was transferred from the business's bank account to an account believed to belong to its legitimate business partner.
🔎 The investigation was assigned to Fairfield Detective Nicholas Cocchi. Police said detectives used multiple court-ordered subpoenas to trace portions of the allegedly stolen money through several bank accounts.
Investigators subsequently identified six individuals who allegedly received funds connected to the fraudulent wire transfer:
👤 Antonio Felder, Brooklyn, NY 👤 Michael Carty Jr., King of Prussia, PA 👤 Brendon Ricketts, Cambria Heights, NY 👤 David Ricketts, Dix Hills, NY 👤 Quami Williams, Covington, GA 👤 Temitayo Ogundiya, Lithonia, GA
On August 31, 2026, all six individuals were charged with theft. Two of the defendants were additionally charged with conspiracy to commit theft.
The defendants are scheduled to appear in Essex County Superior Court.
⚖️ IMPORTANT: The charges against all six defendants are allegations only. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty in a court of law.