Dallas Man Arrested at JFK in Alleged $373 Million Fraud Scheme

The 22-count indictment, returned on August 26 and later unsealed, accuses Dieye, 35, and 13 co-defendants of banking deception, online-transfer fraud, and severe identity theft. Authorities say the defendants targeted accounts at six banks and that victims collectively held more than $373 million in those accounts. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Investigators allege Dieye had a spreadsheet with personal and business details for nearly 3,000 people. The group allegedly used counterfeit identification, impersonated victims, intercepted security codes and manipulated phone lines through spoofing and SIM swapping. Some defendants are accused of using access to banks and telecommunications companies to get around security checks.

The indictment describes attempted and completed withdrawals and transfers, including an attempted $2 million wire from a victim’s account to Emirates Islamic Bank. Authorities say some aliases used by suspects referenced violent extremists and organized-crime figures.

Federal authorities arrested Dieye at John F. Kennedy International Airport after he scanned his boarding pass for a one-way flight to Malaysia. Prosecutors say he and his family had left their Dallas home and shipped most of their belongings to Kenya. Dieye allegedly resisted arrest and tried to destroy a phone containing evidence that he had researched buying a home in Malaysia.

A court initially ordered Dieye released on bond, but federal authorities obtained an emergency stay. He was moved to the Northern District of Texas and is being held there with several co-defendants pending trial. If convicted, defendants face up to 30 years for bank fraud conspiracy and 20 years for wire fraud conspiracy; aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence.