OFFENDER: Mohamed BAKAYOKO (22 YOA)
CHARGE: Grand Theft – 1st Degree Felony
The investigation, led by the Milton Police Department’s Detective Division, uncovered that Bakayoko was the recipient of funds fraudulently obtained through a business email compromise (BEC) scam. In this case, cybercriminals impersonated a legitimate vendor using a compromised email account, misleading Clerk of Court personnel into updating the vendor’s banking details. As a result, over $850,000 was mistakenly transferred into a fraudulent account.
Immediately following the transfer, the funds were rapidly dispersed across multiple financial institutions and accessed through substantial cash withdrawals. Upon discovering the fraudulent activity, swift action was taken to freeze the accounts, resulting in the recovery and return of approximately $650,000 to the Clerk of Court’s Office.
Further digital forensics traced the origin and flow of the stolen funds directly to Bakayoko, a resident of Texas. Milton Police Department Detective Samuel Ennis secured an arrest warrant, and through coordinated efforts with the FBI, Bakayoko was apprehended without incident.
This case represents a highly coordinated investigative effort. The Milton Police Department acknowledges and commends the diligence and collaboration of the Milton Police Department Detective Division, the Office of the State Attorney, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Milton Police Department issues public arrest information in cases that pose a significant risk to community safety and to promote public awareness of fraud schemes.
