Central Texas crime ring uses more than 50 stolen identities to defraud a company of more than $200,000 in loans

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A Central Texas crime ring used more than 50 stolen identities to obtain more than $200,000 in fraudulent loans from a payday loan company, an affidavit alleges.

Talemus Ramon Conway, 48, Tricia Ann McCoy, 35, Danny Scott Johnson, 41, and Caleb Scott Johnson, 22, are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

In September 2024, state authorities met with Select Management Resources’ chief security officer, who oversees security operations for Lonestar Loans, and authorities were told that a group of people had targeted Lonestar Title Loans in Waco.

According to the affidavit, the group used compromised or stolen personal data and passed the information on to Conway, who at the time worked for Lonestar Title Company and was allegedly part of a criminal ring.

An initial investigation led authorities to believe Caleb Johnson, Danny Johnson and McCoy used 19 stolen identities to obtain 20 fraudulent loans totaling $28,000, the affidavit alleges.

During a June 24, 2024 video review, the affidavit states that Caleb Johnson could be seen talking to Conway and using a fake identity to obtain a $550 home equity loan.

According to the affidavit, authorities believe Caleb Johnson received 1/3 of the fraudulent loan he helped obtain.

Video footage shows a similar incident on July 8, 2024, when McCoy used a stolen identity to obtain a fraudulent $650 loan from Conway, the affidavit said.

During McCoy’s interview, the affidavit states, she told authorities she obtained five vehicle title loans, and all those involved in the scheme received 1/3 of the value of the fraudulent loans, which they helped get

Further analysis of the evidence led authorities to identify Danny Johnson as the mastermind of the criminal operation, the affidavit states.

Danny Johnson, according to the affidavit, would give title to the vehicles and stolen identities to the runners and coordinate with Conway so he could issue fraudulent loans.

The affidavit alleges that Danny Johnson would contact and transport runners such as McCoy, Caleb Johnson and others who have not yet been identified.

Authorities also believe Danny Johnson received 1/3 of the total loan amount, according to the affidavit.

On October 17, 2024, state authorities received additional information from the Chief Security Officer that Lonestar Title Loans conducted further investigations into fraudulent title loans associated with the group, which indicated that 116 fraudulent loans totaling $219,754 had been obtained. .78 USD.

In addition, the number of stolen identities used in the criminal operation now exceeds 50, the affidavit said

Conway is being held in the McLennan County Jail on $75,000 bond and McCoy is being held on a total of $32,500 bond.

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