EMAIL FRAUD

Pair sentenced for roles in dispersing proceeds of Internet and email fraud schemes

A Warwick man and a Baltimore, Maryland man — who prosecutors argued played various roles in an underground financial network in support of international internet and email fraud schemes — have been sentenced to federal prison, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha, District of Rhode Island.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. sentenced Babawale Jenyo, 33, of Warwick, who was previously convicted at trial of operating an illegal money transmitting business, to a year and a day in federal prison on Tuesday.

Abiodun Shobaloju, 29, of Baltimore, Maryland, who previously pled guilty to wire fraud, had been previously sentenced by McConnell on April 26, to 24 months of incarceration and ordered to pay restitution to fraud victims totaling $136,431, according to Cunha’s office.

“According to court documents, Shobaloju was part of a conspiracy that carried out email and romance scams that succeeded in fraudulently obtaining large sums from multiple victims,” according to the press release. “As part of his role in the conspiracy, Shobaloju provided members of the conspiracy with critical bank information, and also created a shell company and bank account to be used expressly to receive and disperse proceeds from the fraud scheme. Once the ill-gotten funds were deposited in accounts controlled by Shobaloju, he would often withdraw cash for his own use and then transfer the remaining funds to other bank accounts.”

In Jenyo’s case, the government presented evidence and testimony at trial that funds fraudulently obtained from unsuspecting victims of email and romance scams were passed through bank accounts that he controlled, according to Cunha’s office.

“Jenyo’s criminal conduct was first discovered by Rhode Island State Police in 2017, resulting in his arrest May 2017 on charges that he participated in an email scam that defrauded a West Des Moines, IA, couple,” according to the press release. “In May of 2019, Jenyo was arrested again, this time by the United States Secret Service, which determined that, even after his encounter with Rhode Island State Police, Jenyo continued to engage in illicit money transferring activities up until the date of his second arrest.”

Assistant United States Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and Richard B. Myrus prosecuted both cases.

DUI

At 8:35 p.m., April 30, Warwick Police Officer Michael J. Rosa was on routine patrol when he observed vehicle make a left hand turn from Main Avenue onto the one-way section of the Post Road off-ramp, into oncoming traffic.

Rosa activated his emergency lights, turned his patrol vehicle around and conducted a vehicle stop at the intersection of Post Road and Greene Street. The driver was identified as Matthew J. Parkinson, 30, of 149 Lucas Road, East Greenwich.

“Parkinson stated, he was coming from his residence and did not realize he was traveling down a one way street into oncoming traffic,” Rosa wrote in the incident report. “While speaking with Parkinson, I detected the strong odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from his breath as he spoke with me. I asked Parkinson if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages tonight and he stated that he had not.”

Parkinson allegedly told another officer at the scene that that he had “two beers.”

He consented to a series of Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST).

Police asked Parkinson to consent to a breath sample, but he allegedly told them “My lawyer told me I should not consent.”

“It is in this officer’s opinion that at the time of my traffic stop, Parkinson was under the influence of alcoholic beverages to such a degree that it rendered him incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle,” Rosa wrote.

Parkinson was issued a Third District Court summons for DUI-Liquor (BAC unknown) and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (first offense). He will also receive a Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal (RITT) citation for Driving the Wrong Way on a One Way Highway.

DUI

At 12:52 a.m., May 1, Warwick Police Officer Keara M. Enos was on “specialized Riptide DUI patrol, on Route 95 South when her attention was drawn to a black 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

“The vehicle began swerving significantly toward the right and crossed into the breakdown lane,” Enos wrote in the incident report.

Enos followed the vehicle and watched it “swerving back and forth” considerably and then “abruptly” increase in speed. She conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as John E. Balfour, 53, of 36 Union St., East Greenwich.

Balfour told Enos he had three alcoholic beverages prior to driving. Enos reported that his eyes were severely bloodshot and glossy, and she detected a strong odor of alcohol.

Balfour was charged with one count of DUI-Liquor (BAC unknown, first offense) and Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test (first offense). He received a Third District Court summons and court date of May 12.

DUI

At 1:46 a.m., May 1, Warwick Police Officer Connor R. Bemis was driving north on Post Road in front of Gregg’s Restaurant near Route 37 West, when he observed a blue Toyota traveling south at “an extremely slow rate of speed.”

“As I passed the vehicle while traveling in the opposite direction I observed that it was in the right-hand lane, then observed it strike the concrete traffic island at the intersection of Post Road and the Route 37 West on-ramp,” Bemis wrote in the report. “I then observed the vehicle to nearly strike several traffic signs and while traveling completely over the island.”

Bemis turned his cruiser around to get behind the Toyota, which came to a stop in the middle of the ramp. Bemis initiated a traffic stop.

He identified the driver as Mark D. Sposato, 53, of 393 Potter Hill Road, Westerly.

Bemis noted Sposato allegedly had “extremely bloodshot and watery eyes,” slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

Sposato allegedly told police that he was “coming from a bar in Cranston.” When asked if he was drinking, Sposato replied that he “probably had two beers too many.”

He was asked to exit the vehicle.

On the side of the road, “Sposato began tap dancing and making jazz sounds, as if imitating musical instruments,” according to the police report.

“He then advised me that he is ‘in a band,’” Bemis wrote. “Sposato then continued to laugh and joke, and pretended to play an air trumpet.”

Sposato was asked to submit to SFST’s, and he agreed. Police conducted the tests.

Police then asked Sposato if he would agree or refuse a chemical test. He refused.

Sposato was arrested and transported to Warwick Police Headquarters. He has been charged with DUI-Liquor (BAC unknown), Operation Under Foreign License During Suspension, Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test (first offense) and Driving with Suspended License (first offense).

Sposato will also receive several traffic citations, including Leaving Lane of Travel, Stopped on Open Portion of Travel Highways and Chemical Test Refusal (first offense).

He was transported to Kent County Memorial Hospital for detox since he was unable to “secure a sober adult for a ride (home) from Warwick Police Headquarters,” according to the report.