Feds: Wake family stole identities, ran up debt in bogus credit repair operation

Michael Anthony Griffin Sr., 52, his wife, Angela Griffin, 52, his daughter, Creshun Alexandria Griffin, 26, all of Knightdale, his three sisters, Regina Griffin, 48, Sharon Annita Edmond, 51, Katina Griffin Perry, 47, all of Raleigh, and his two brothers, Harvey Griffin, 46, of Raleigh, and Melvin Griffin, 44, of Knightdale, all are charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, making false statements to a bank on loans, aggravated identity theft and perjury.

Authorities said Michael Griffin told people he could fix their bad credit, but instead, he created fictitious credit profiles and altered client credit data through the use of fake police reports. He and others then defrauded Capital One, Discover and Synchrony Bank, a Lowe’s credit card provider, by opening credit accounts in the name of fraudulent identities, cashing out the accounts through prepaid card purchases and defaulting on the credit accounts.

The members of the ring also used fraudulent identities, bank statements, pay stubs and other documents to defraud banks, lenders, merchants and landlords, authorities said. They cited one instance in which Michael Griffin used a fake Social Security card to buy a $72,000 Hyundai Genesis from Johnson Automotive.

Others charged in the case include Shawn Allen Farmer, 51, of Cary, Jasmine Mariah Davis, 28, of Lakeland, Fla., Tyrone Edmonds, 46, of Weldon, Conscina Marie Brooks, 27, of Knightdale, and Jasper Deonta Goodman, 46, of Raleigh.