Altered Treasury Checks and Spoofed Bank Texts: Four Massachusetts Men Charged in $12 Million Fraud Ring

Published Oct. 2, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

On Sept. 24, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the arrest and indictment of four men—David Obeng, 24, of Dedham; Lynley Joseph, 26, of Brockton; Lindsley Georges, 33, of Everett; and Shaunsayh Addo, 33, of Leominster—on charges tied to the alleged theft and fraudulent deposit of more than $12.2 million in U.S. Treasury checks and more than $1 million in other frauds against banks, credit unions, and customers [1].

Important: An indictment is an allegation. All four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The alleged Treasury-check conspiracy

According to the first indictment summarized by prosecutors [1]:

1. Between 2023 and 2026, the defendants allegedly coordinated theft and deposit of U.S. Treasury checks totaling at least $12.2 million.
2. Each check was allegedly issued to a true payee but altered to be payable to shell companies the defendants controlled.
3. Each defendant allegedly directed deposits of fraudulent checks at Metro Boston banks or credit unions for a cut of the proceeds.
4. They allegedly laundered funds through cashier’s checks, about $310,000 in luxury watches, and a $425,000 real-estate loan secured by Nantucket property.

Eight other people were charged in June 2025 and one in June 2026 in related stolen-Treasury-check cases [1].

All four named defendants were indicted on one count each of bank-fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy [1].

The alleged account-takeover scheme (Obeng)

A second indictment also charged Obeng with wire-fraud conspiracy, five counts of bank fraud, two counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft [1]. Prosecutors allege Obeng and others:

• Obtained unauthorized electronic access to victims’ bank and retirement accounts;
• Sent texts made to look like they came from victims’ banks confirming a purchase;
• Posed on calls as bank fraud investigators and persuaded victims to provide codes used to authorize withdrawals;
• Recruited people to enter branches, pose as customers, open accounts, move fraud proceeds, and withdraw cash [1].

Custody status and prior conviction note

After initial appearances in Boston federal court, Joseph and Addo were released on conditions; Obeng and Georges remained detained pending later hearings [1]. Court records cited by the USAO say Georges was previously convicted of money laundering in the District of Massachusetts in January 2022 and was on federal supervised release during the alleged conduct [1].

IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI Boston, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Kearney and Seth B. Kosto are prosecuting [1].

Red flags for consumers

• Texts that look like your bank asking you to “confirm a purchase” and then push you onto a call.
• Callers claiming to be bank fraud investigators who ask for one-time passcodes, card PINs, or remote access.
• Anyone asking you to open an account, receive a deposit, and withdraw cash for someone else—money-mule work is a crime.
• Unexpected U.S. Treasury or tax refund activity you did not initiate.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Hang up / delete and contact your bank only via the number on your card or statement.
2. Never share one-time codes with a caller; banks already have ways to authenticate without fishing codes from you on an inbound scam call.
3. Report to ic3.gov, your bank’s fraud unit, and Massachusetts benefit-fraud tip line 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621) if relevant [1].
4. If you were used as a mule, stop immediately, keep records, and talk to a lawyer—cooperating early can matter.
5. Monitor credit and bank statements for altered government payments.

Case status (as of Oct. 2, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 2, 2026	Source
David Obeng, 24, Dedham	D. Mass.	Indicted (two indictments); detained pending hearings; presumed innocent	[1]
Lynley Joseph, 26, Brockton	D. Mass.	Indicted; released on conditions; presumed innocent	[1]
Lindsley Georges, 33, Everett	D. Mass.	Indicted; detained; prior 2022 money-laundering conviction noted by USAO; presumed innocent on new charges	[1]
Shaunsayh Addo, 33, Leominster	D. Mass.	Indicted; released on conditions; presumed innocent	[1]

Those not convicted on the new charges are presumed innocent. Statuses can change.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts, “Four Massachusetts Men Arrested and Charged for Fraud, Money Laundering Schemes,” Sept. 24, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/four-massachusetts-men-arrested-and-charged-fraud-money-laundering-schemes

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