FREEHOLD – The tennis instructor recently arrested for sex crimes against minors allegedly worked with his parents, relatives, and others to defraud stores and financial institutions.
The two-year operation, dubbed “Operation Plastic Army,” busted 16 people for the thefts or other related charges, including Terry Kuo, also known as Victor Lee or Young Sheng Teng of ATS Tennis, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.
The prosecutor’s office said these individuals obtained credit cards by stealing identities and opening accounts with no intention of paying the bills. Purchased items were then sold online or pawned for cash. To avoid any suspicion, deposits of less than $10,000 were made in bank accounts or invested in cryptocurrency.
In all, Kuo and his associates opened more than 120 credit cards and stole $400,000 in merchandise, the prosecutor’s office said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the New Jersey State Police, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Freehold Borough, Jackson, Neptune Township, Marlboro Township, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Old Bridge, and Campton (New Hampshire) police departments assisted.
Terry Kuo, 27, of Colts Neck, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree theft by deception, second-degree fencing, second-degree financial facilitation, two counts of second-degree impersonation, second-degree insurance fraud, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards, third-degree forgery, third-degree hindering apprehension of oneself, third-degree witness tampering, fourth-degree credit card theft, fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records, fourth-degree false statements made in procuring issuance of credit card and third-degree possession of personal identifying information pertaining to another person.
He was indicted Dec. 21 on first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault charges. He remains in the Monmouth County Correctional Facility.
Stuart Gordon, 29, of New York City, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree theft by deception, second-degree financial facilitation and third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards.
Michael Marrella, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception.
Camilo Hatuka, 26, of East Windsor, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception.
Noah Kluin, 22, of Atlantic Highlands, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception. Kluin has not yet been arrested and is being sought by authorities.
Christopher Miranda, 34, of Freehold, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception.
Andre Fiel, 27, of Ocean Township, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception.
Dave Lin, 35, of Philadelphia, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree of theft by deception.
Bryan Levin, 26, of Old Bridge, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception.
Francis Munoz, 21, of Perth Amboy, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception. There is an outstanding warrant for Munoz but he has not been arrested.
Victor Lee, 27, of Campton, New Hampshire, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception.
Hayden Gaspich, 26, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was charged with second-degree conspiracy, third-degree fraudulent use of credit cards and third-degree theft by deception.
Barbara Cirillo, 63, of Jackson, was charged with fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records and fourth-degree impersonation.
Lynn Kuo, 52, of Neptune Township, who is the mother of Terry Kuo, was charged with fourth-degree hindering apprehension of another and fourth-degree tampering with evidence, for trying to hide her son’s illicit belongings.
George Kuo, 65, of Neptune Township, the father of Terry Kuo, was charged with fourth-degree hindering apprehension of another and fourth-degree tampering with evidence, for trying to hide his son’s illicit belongings.
Yuhsuan Lin, 29, of Rockville, Maryland, a cousin of Terry Kuo, was charged with fourth-degree hindering apprehension of another and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.
All second-degree crimes carry sentences of 5-10 years in prison. Third-degree crimes carry sentences of 3-5 years in prison and fourth-degree crimes carry sentences up to 18 months in prison.
