8 Rutgers Football Players Indicted For Credit Card Fraud

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Eight players who were either suspended from or kicked off the Rutgers football team have now been indicted for credit card fraud.

The eight Rutgers football players who were indicted are: Malik Vaccaro-Dixon, Kai "K.J.'' Gray, Edwin Lopez, Kwabena "Kobe" Marfo, Syhiem Simmons, Christian "C.J.'' Onyechi, Naijee Jones and linebacker Brendan DeVera. All eight players were indicted Dec. 5 by a grand jury in Middlesex County; the Middlesex County prosecutor's office provided Patch with a copy of the indictment.

K.J. Gray and DeVera, pictured above, left and right, were the two players dismissed from the team. The other six were all suspended and there is a chance they could play again next season. Under head coach Chris Ash, Rutgers football just wrapped up an incredibly dismal 1-11 2018 season.

DeVera was originally charged as one of the organizers of the credit card fraud scheme, but the most serious charge against him — promoting organized street crime in the second degree — was dropped. Gray, however, is still facing a second-degree charge of promoting organized street crime, which carries a maximum of 10 years in jail if he is found guilty.

The alleged thefts occurred this past spring, prosecutors say. The Middlesex County prosecutor's office says the players used the dark web to obtain credit card numbers and then transferred money to their Rutgers Express debit-card accounts, NJ.com reported. The transfers were done in small amounts, ranging from $200 to $800 at a time, prosecutors said, according to reports.

In total, $11,450 was stolen from various victims.

Gray, a junior when the alleged thefts occurred, is a Newark native and attended St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City. He was the No. 23 ranked recruit in New Jersey by ESPN.

DeVera is a former Wayne Hills High School star quarterback. In high school, he helped Wayne Hills win an NJSIAA North Jersey 1 Group 4 title. He was named first team all-state, first team All-Group 4 by The Star-Ledger, and first-team All-Metro by MSG Varsity.

They were both kicked off the team: On Dec. 9 DeVera tweeted that he received an offer to play at Arizona State University.

All eight players are scheduled to appear at Middlesex County Superior Court on Jan. 3 before Judge Pedro Jimenez.

Marfo said he was "trying to help out'' DeVera, who "was pressed for money because he had parking tickets," NJ.com reported. Marfo also allegedly told detectives he used the stolen money to purchase shoes and clothing.

This is not the first scandal for the Rutgers football program: In 2015, up to eight players on the team were charged with assault, robbery and drug dealing. All were kicked off the team and head coach Kyle Flood was fired that same year.

Past Patch reporting on the 2018 Rutgers football credit card fraud scandal:

Several Rutgers Players Face Fake Credit Card Probe: Report

Two Players Kicked Off Rutgers Football Team

Photos from Rutgers University: K.J. Gray, at left, and Brendan DeVera at right.