2 Bronx men plead guilty for identity theft, fraud in TJX Stores

Two Bronx men have pleaded guilty for their part in a scheme that included using fraudulently obtained credit cards to steal from several Westchester County TJX Companies, Inc. stores, including TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods.

This was disclosed by Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah on Friday July 16, 2021.

According to Rocah, Patrick Onogwu and Asanimo Riesa, and their associates stole more than $50,000 opening TJX Rewards credit cards by using victims’ personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers.

They allegedly forged victims’ signatures on credit applications, and presenting forged United States passport cards and driver’s licenses as identification. The defendants then used these fraudulently obtained credit card accounts to purchase merchandise and then returned some of the stolen merchandise to other TJX stores to obtain cash refunds.

“This fraud scheme was detailed and extensive,” DA Mimi Rocah said.

He added, “But thanks to our law enforcement partners from the Westchester Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the victim’s retail crime investigative team, the fraud scheme was stopped.”

Onogwu and Riesa have been ordered to pay restitution to the TJX Companies and Synchrony Bank and forfeited a 2013 Mercedes Benz SUV that was used to travel from store to store committing the fraud, as well as various electronic devices used to commit the fraud, and monies in bank accounts that were used in connection with the scheme.

Other defendants in the case, Hassan Miller and Dawn Anderson were sentenced in September to 1.5 to 4.5 years each in state prison after pleading guilty in November 2019.

The case was before Judge David S. Zuckerman, AJSC, in Westchester County Court, and was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Stefanie DeNise.