U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Thornton et al., Crim. No. 2:25-cr-105
On August 21, 2025, the defendants--Rodney Thornton, Steven Jones III, Jamaica Sumner, Troy Davis III, Laterrance Parker Jr., Jordan Pugh, Lois Staton, Joy Davis, Persia Brown, and Andrea Holley--were charged in a 25-count criminal indictment, charging:
Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349;
Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 2;
Bank Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2; and
Conspiracy to Launder Money, in violation of § 1956(h),
related to their alleged actions in what has been commonly referred to as the “Parking Lot Scam” in the Hampton Roads region and elsewhere.
According to the indictment, since at least January 2023, fraud schemes were perpetuated in parking lots across the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere. The fraudsters would target victims in publicly accessible places and convince victims, through deceit and intimidation, to hand over their mobile devices.
Once a fraudster obtained possession of a victim’s mobile device, they would access the victim’s financial institution and financial service mobile applications, including such applications as Navy Federal Credit Union, Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, among others. The fraudsters would then commit a variety of fraudulent actions, including unauthorized loan applications, financial disputes, monetary transfers, withdrawals, and accessing the personally identifiable information of the victims.
The predominant scheme involved the targeting of military age males, who the fraudsters assumed were probable account holders with Navy Federal Credit Union. The fraudsters would obtain the mobile device of the victim, execute a Personal Expense Consumer (PEC) loan through the victim’s Navy Federal Credit Union mobile application, receive loan approval, and then deceive or intimidate the victim into transferring those funds to the fraudster.
Potential Victims
If you believe you are a potential victim of the above referenced conduct, please complete the following form "Potential Victim Form" (Select the hyperlink, a downloadable form will open) and submit by either:
Email to: USAVAE.Parkinglotscam@usdoj.gov with the title “Parking Lot Scam”
Mail to: Attn: Parking Lot Scam
United States Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division
101 West Main St., Suite 8000
Norfolk, VA 23510
*Further information is provided below regarding victims’ rights and information.
Next Court Date
February 24, 2025 – Trial, Walter E. Hoffman United States District Court, Norfolk, Virginia
Court Documents
Court Order on Victim Notification
Victim Rights and Information
Crime Victim’s Right Act (CVRA)
Pursuant to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), 18 U.S.C. § 3771, the Department of Justice is required to provide notice to individuals who may have been harmed as a direct result of the criminal offenses of which a defendant has been convicted. In this context, “harmed” is defined broadly and is not limited to monetary loss. This office uses the Victim Notification System (VNS) and other methods, including web pages and press releases, to ensure potential victims receive timely notice of public events related to a case. For more information, go to Victims’ Rights Act.
Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA)
The Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, governs restitution in this case. Restitution is a determination by the judge that a victim is entitled to monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of a crime for which a defendant has been convicted. It is not a guarantee of payment. Under the MVRA, if a defendant is convicted of a crime carrying restitution as a penalty, the judge at sentencing determines who is a victim and in what amount they are entitled to restitution. In cases involving property crimes, including the fraud offenses with which the defendant is charged, restitution may generally only be awarded for the value of the property lost by the victim as a direct result of a defendant’s crime of conviction less the value of any property returned to the victim. Victims may also be entitled to restitution for expenses incurred while participating in the criminal investigation or prosecution or traveling to court proceedings for the case, such as lost income, childcare, transportation, and other expenses. Restitution is generally not available for medical care, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or lost income caused by the defendant’s conduct, except in the limited context described above.
Victim Notification System (VNS)
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia are committed to protecting the rights of crime victims and providing them with information necessary to exercise those rights. We invite those potential crime victims to contact the prosecution through our Victim/Witness Unit to ensure they are notified of important stages of the case. In addition, our Victim/Witness Unit can help make references to agencies that provide other services to witnesses. Those who successfully register as potential victims will have access to the Victim Notification System (VNS).
The VNS is designed to provide information regarding the case as it proceeds through the criminal justice system. Registered victims may obtain current information about this matter on the Internet at www.Notify.usdoj.gov or from the VNS Call Center at 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968) (TDD/TTY:1-866-228-4619; International 1-502-213-2767). In addition, they may use the Call Center or Internet to update their contact information and/or change their decision about participation in the notification program. To access VNS, a crime victim must receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) from our Victim/Witness Unit.