MD Man Arrested In Money Laundering Scheme Out Of Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A Maryland man was arrested this week and charged in connection with a pet scam where a Loudoun County resident paid more than $1,000 for a kitten she never received. The suspect, Junior Perkins A. Tako, 25, was charged with money laundering in the scheme.

The investigation conducted by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit determined Tako received money from the scam through a payment app and acted as a go-between, transferring the monies overseas.

The victim reported in May 2020 that she was researching certified cat breeders and contacted a company online. The victim contacted the breeder by email and transferred money to purchase a kitten. She then was contacted by the breeder asking for additional money for travel costs. The victim refused to pay the money and demanded a refund. The victim never received her money back and reported the case to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

Tako turned himself over to authorities Dec. 28. He was released on a $1,000 secured bond.

In light of this arrest and recent pet scam cases, the LCSO is offering these tips to assist residents who are interested in purchasing a pet:
• Residents are reminded to never send money to a pet purchase unless you have seen the animal in person.
• Deal with local breeders, animal shelters and rescue groups.
• It is a red flag if someone requests payment via wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
• Do your research on the seller before sending any money, researching online the seller's full name, address and phone number. If no information is found or they refuse to let you go to the pet’s home, chances are it is a scam.