Two Indicted for Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft

WILMINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that a federal grand jury in Wilmington, North Carolina returned a five-count indictment charging JONES TYLER MARTIN and HAILEY TYKOSKI with conspiring to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting.

The Indictment alleges that that from approximately 2013 to May, 2015, MARTIN created fake female identities on internet dating websites for the purpose of defrauding young enlisted male Marines into on-line relationships.  TYKOSKI would use the fake female identities to communicate with some of the Marines by telephone and in person.  The investigation further revealed that MARTIN and TYKOSKI, using these false identities, persuaded Marine victims to divulge personal identification and financial information, which the defendants subsequently used to their gain to fraudulently make wire transfers of money and to obtain credit in victims’ names.   

Both defendants have been arrested.  TYKOSKI was arrested in Michigan and has an initial appearance scheduled for November 29, 2016, in Wilmington, North Carolina.  MARTIN was arrested in New Mexico and has an initial appearance scheduled for today in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

If convicted, the defendants face up to 30 years imprisonment on each conspiracy and wire fraud count.  They also face 2 years consecutive imprisonment on each aggravated identity theft count.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

The case is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Field Office Carolinas, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.