A Miami man has pleaded guilty in Connecticut federal court to participating in a multistate fraud conspiracy that stole more than $250,000 from victims, including users of the Zelle payment platform, federal prosecutors said.
Kuttino Jamal Scott, 24, admitted Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud before a judge in New Haven. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia released Scott on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 13. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, Scott was part of a coordinated scheme that targeted bank customers between February 2021 and August 2023. Prosecutors said the conspiracy victimized individuals in Connecticut and other states.
Court records show Scott worked alongside Kader Gahmaal Biwaki Edmond, who pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced in August 2024 to three years in prison. Edmond was also ordered to pay more than $290,000 in restitution.
Scott’s plea agreement details how Edmond used social-engineering tactics to deceive bank customers into believing unauthorized Zelle transfers had been made from their accounts. Victims were instructed to take steps supposedly designed to reverse the transactions. Instead, the actions redirected funds to accounts controlled by the conspirators.
Prosecutors said Scott’s role involved coordinating with multiple money mules. He obtained their bank account information, provided it to Edmond, and instructed the mules to withdraw fraud proceeds after the funds were deposited.
Federal authorities said Scott and Edmond also participated in additional fraud schemes beyond the Zelle-related activity.
Scott’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Scott is represented by Leslie A. Cahill of Spears Manning & Martini LLC. The government is represented by Edward Chang of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
The case is United States v. Scott et al., case number 3:24-cr-00103, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
