D.A. Bragg Announces Indictment In Multi-State Fraud Ring For $1.9 Million Theft From Corporate American Express Account


October 22, 2024

Defendants Allegedly Spent $1.8 Million on Watches from Luxury Brands Including Patek Philippe and Rolex

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the indictment of GUY BONDOBARI, a/k/a GUY NDI-BONDOBARI, 56, and MARCEL TOULA, 58, for operating a multi-state credit card fraud ring, which stole more than $1.9 million from a corporate American Express account between July and August 2023. BONDOBARI and TOULA are each charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree. [1] 

“As alleged, Guy Bondobari and Marcel Toula operated a multi-state credit card fraud ring to steal over $1.9 million dollars from American Express and purchase lavish items, including thirteen luxury watches,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This investigation remains ongoing. If you are a victim of financial crime, or know about a financial crime that requires investigation, please call our Financial Frauds Bureau at 212-335-8900.” 

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, between July 15, 2023, and August 14, 2023, BONDOBARI and TOULA operated a multi-state credit card fraud ring, which stole more than $1.9 million from a corporate American Express account. 

On July 15, 2023, BONDOBARI and TOULA added themselves as sub-account card holders on an American Express corporate credit card account. Once they had access to the account, the defendants obtained multiple American Express Business Platinum credit cards in their own names. 

BONDOBARI and TOULA used the fraudulently obtained cards to purchase over $1.8 million worth of luxury watches in a single month, as well as travel throughout the United States, purchasing business class plane tickets, luxury hotel accommodations, and Mercedes and Lexus rental cars. 

In a single weekend, BONDOBARI and TOULA purchased six watches from retailers in and around Manhattan. These watches included a Platinum Rolex Daytona for $158,522.00; a rose gold Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph for $299,406.25; a Platinum Rolex Daytona for $272,187.50; a rose gold Patek Philippe Nautilus Moon Phase for $242,508.00; a custom Richard Mille for $75,000.00; and an 18-karat rose gold Patek Philippe Nautilus for $208,508.00. 

Additionally, BONDOBARI and TOULA used those credit cards to purchase a watch in Atlanta, Georgia for $58,806, two watches in Miami, Florida for $164,780, $30,000 worth of merchandise from a watch retailer in Beverly Hills, California, and four additional watches in Manhattan for $333,590.82. 

Assistant D.A.s Joseph Pepe (Financial Frauds Bureau) and Noreen Stackhouse (Financial Frauds Bureau) are handling the prosecution of this case, with the assistance of Paralegal Sofia Albi (Financial Frauds Bureau) and Assistant D.A. Luis Morales (Financial Frauds Bureau), under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Kelly Thomas (Deputy Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Hope Korenstein (Deputy Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), and Kofi Sansculotte (Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau); and Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division). 

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Vincent Catalano of the Financial Crimes Task Force. 

 

Defendant Information: 

GUY BONDOBARI, a/k/a GUY NDI-BONDOBARI 

Atlanta, GA 

Charged:

  • Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count 

 

MARCEL TOULA 

Atlanta, GA 

Charged:

  • Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count 

 

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.