RHOA: Apollo Nida Working On Plea Deal In Federal Fraud Case
According to Radio TV Talk Blog (AJC), Apollo Nida, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is currently working on a plea deal with the federal government to avoid a trial. Apollo is the househusband of The Real Housewives of Atlanta star and power attorney, Phaedra Parks.
RHOA: Breaking News — Apollo Nida Charged With Bank Fraud And Aggravated Identity Fraud
While the specific details of the plea deal is sealed, prison time is almost certain. Apollo’s court documents are quite revealing and breaks down the allege bank fraud and identity theft scam. According to the Criminal Complaint (US vs Apollo Nida – Case Number: 01:14-MJ-059) brought forth by U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, the fraud started around September 2010, when Apollo was fresh off of serving a 5 year prison sentence. Apollo, knowingly and willfully conducted a scam to defraud financial institutions by depositing stolen and fraudulently obtained checks, auto loan proceeds and US Treasury checks into bank accounts opened in names of stolen identities. Apollo conspired with others and knowingly used the proceeds of this scam for his own personal benefit. Apollo’s case is a classic fraud scheme.
Essentially, Apollo created fake companies giving him access to LexisNexis, Equifax and Mircrobilt, all commercial databases which he allegedly used to harvest personal information (of potential victims) with the intent to defraud. One of his known conspirator’s, Gayla Oneal St. Julien has already plead guilty and accepted a plea deal for her role in the scam. Allegedly, Gayla Oneal St. Julien, opened 40 bank accounts in and around the Atlanta area, using stolen identities and would deposit stolen US Treasury checks, fraudulent checks, stolen retirement checks issued to Delta Airlines employees, and checks in the names of real people who were owed unclaimed property from various state and federal government agencies.
One of the banks (J.P. Morgan Chase) became suspicious when Mrs. St. Julien opened 4 bank accounts using 2 stolen identities and would make large deposits of checks with different names. Obviously, bank officials became very suspicious and notified authorities which kicked-off the investigation in February 2012 by Special Agent Alexandre Herrera. Agents recorded phone conversations between Gayla and Apollo in which, Apollo discussed details of fraudulent auto loans and information of future checks that he was expecting to receive in the mail, stated in the affidavit.
From Rodney Ho Radio & TV Talk:
“In documents procured by Radaronline filed last week, “Counsel for Mr. Nida and counsel for the government have been engaged in discussions aimed at resolving this matter without a trial since February 10, 2014. They are still in the process of investigating additional facts and negotiating a resolution.”
A pre-trial hearing had been originally scheduled last month. Both sides agreed to a continuance through April 25, 2014. The government has charged him but has yet to file an indictment.
Nida, based on the testimony of a woman he worked with Gayla St. Julien and Nida’s computer the feds procured, created fake debt-collection businesses in order to “illicitly obtain personal identifying information of individuals.” St. Julien would take on these fake identities and deposit fraudulent auto loan checks, stolen U.S. Treasury checks, stolen retirement checks issued to Delta Airlines employees and checks in the name of real people owed unclaimed property, according to the original criminal complaint.
The complaint provided a sampling of bank accounts totaling about $3 million tied to alleged fraudulent activities.
Nida allegedly has been working these schemes since 2009, soon after he was released from prison for a prior racketeering case.”
Nancy Zhāng is an Entertainment Blogger for All About The Tea. Nancy covers hot topics, recaps and celeb news. She loves to multi-task as a writer and a private chef. She received a B.S. in Mass Communications from LSU. Nancy’s married and the proud mom of 2 German Shepherds.