NORFOLK, Va. — Eleven people have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme that targeted credit union members in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region.
Since at least January 2023, participants approached people in publicly accessible places and persuaded them to hand over their mobile devices, according to the report. They then accessed victims’ accounts to apply for loans, file financial disputes, transfer or withdraw money, and obtain personally identifiable information, according to 13News.
Steven Carter Jones III, 33, was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison. He pleaded guilty April 15 to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, 13News reported.
Jones also pleaded guilty April 17 in a separate federal case to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 9, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison in that case. Jones has prior convictions for possession of a firearm by a violent felon, eluding police with endangerment, reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, among other offenses, according to 13News.
The Sentences
The 10 others sentenced in connection with the credit union scheme were:
- Corey Deshawn Smith, 32, pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2025, to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced Wednesday to two years and seven months in prison.
- Persia Brown, 25, pleaded guilty April 13 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced July 23 to four months in prison.
- Troy Lee Davis III, 26, pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. He was sentenced June 2 to two years and six months in prison.
- Andrea Holley pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced May 6 to one year in prison.
- Joy Davis, 48, pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced May 5 to two years and six months in prison.
- Latterance Octavia Parker Jr., 25, pleaded guilty Jan. 23 to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. He was sentenced May 6 to three years and two months in prison.
- Jordan Pugh, 34, pleaded guilty Feb. 11 to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. He was sentenced May 11 to three years and four months in prison.
- Lois Irene Staton, 33, pleaded guilty Jan. 5 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced May 13 to six months in prison.
- Jamaica Lavonta Sumner, 26, pleaded guilty Feb. 3 to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Sumner was sentenced May 6 to one year and nine months in prison.
- Rodney Demetrius Thorton, 40, pleaded guilty Jan. 5 to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. He was sentenced May 13 to three years and six months in prison.
