PENSACOLA, Fla. – Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agents arrested Tiwuan Williams, 26, and Stephon Pugh-Davis, 27, both of Pensacola, for scheme to defraud, criminal use of personal identification information, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and conspiracy to commit a felony, according to a press release from the FDLE.
The investigation began in June 2021 when a local financial institution reported suspected internal fraud being committed by employees Williams and Pugh-Davis, the FDLE said.
The FDLE says its agents discovered that Williams recruited other employees, including Pugh-Davis, to provide him with customer account details in order to facilitate fraudulent transfers into money mule accounts.
The investigation showed that Williams attempted to facilitate the transfer of more than $165,000 through more than 30 victim accounts, while Pugh-Davis assisted with more than 20 of the fraudulent transfers, the FDLE said.
Williams was arrested on March 4, while Pugh-Davis was arrested on March 7, according to the FDLE.
Each reportedly was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a $300,000 bond. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit.
