US prosecutors said 14 people face charges in a nationwide bank account takeover case on November 3, 2026. The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas said the indictment names bank and phone company insiders.
The indictment says a spreadsheet held by defendant Muhamed Dieye contained details on nearly 3,000 people. It puts their combined bank holdings at more than $373 million. That figure describes money in their accounts, not a total stolen.
According to the Justice Department, a grand jury returned the 22-count indictment on August 26, 2026. The court unsealed it on November 3 after the arrest of a co-defendant in Florida. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Bank account takeover allegations
The indictment says the alleged scheme ran from July 2023 through November 2024. It says the group used fake identity documents and posed as account holders to move or withdraw funds. Bank and phone company employees allegedly helped bypass security checks.
According to the indictment, the group also took over victims’ phone lines and intercepted security codes. It says these codes helped reset online banking profiles, respond to fraud alerts and approve transfers.
Why phone numbers matter
The Federal Trade Commission says scammers can seize phone numbers through SIM swapping. Calls and texts then reach the scammer’s phone. As a result, the scammer may get codes meant to protect online accounts.
The FTC says text message checks may not stop this type of attack. It advises using an authentication app or security key to guard against SIM swapping. It also advises setting a PIN or password on the mobile account to help prevent changes without consent.
Case awaits trial
The indictment charges all 14 defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Other counts also charge some defendants with bank fraud or wire fraud. However, the aggravated identity theft counts name Dieye alone.
Prosecutors said Dieye and several co-defendants remained in federal custody in North Texas pending trial as of November 3. The Justice Department gave no trial date for the bank account takeover case.
Sources: Justice Department indictment, Justice Department announcement, FTC
