Photo by Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

By Keith Sargeant and Craig McCarthy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Eight Rutgers football players were involved in a credit-card fraud scam over the spring in which the players — four of whom have since parted ways with the team — stole roughly $11,000, authorities tell NJ Advance Media.

The accused players received summonses earlier this week and had plans to turn themselves in to authorities on Wednesday, according to two persons with knowledge of the matter. They requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the case.

Sophomore linebacker Brendan DeVera and defensive back K.J. Gray, who police have named as the ringleaders, were charged with promoting organized street crime, a second-degree crime, and money laundering, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey. As first reported by NJ Advance Media on July 11, both were dismissed for violations of team rules.

The players are accused of stealing credit card numbers and transferring funds from various Rutgers University Express Accounts for their own personal use, Carey said in a statement.

Don't Edit

DeVera, who has been jailed on the charges which also includes a count of money laundering, is set to appear in court Thursday, according to authorities.

Redshirt junior linebacker Malik Dixon, redshirt freshman defensive back Edwin Lopez, senior defensive back Kobe Marfo and redshirt freshman linebacker Syhiem Simmons all face charges of money laundering and fraudulent use of credit cards, according to the prosecutor's office.

Also accused of taking part in the scheme are sophomore linebacker C.J. Onyechi and redshirt freshman defensive back Naijee Jones, both of whom were charged with credit card fraud, Carey said.

Each player faces a charge of conspiracy to commit theft by deception.

Dixon, Jones, Lopez, Marfo, Onyechi, and Simmons are slated to appear in Middlesex County Superior Court on Sept. 13 before Judge Michael Toto.

Don't Edit

In an emailed statement, Rutgers University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Hobbs said, "We are very disappointed and frustrated. We have been working extremely hard to build a culture of excellence across the department and this news detracts from the great strides we have made. We will continue that work.”

According to the university's website, the RU Express card is a cash-free alternative that allows students to use their University ID cards like a debit card. It is accepted at nearly 70 on-campus restaurants, convenience stores and retail businesses and another 60 off-campus locations.

According to the terms, only the cardholder may present the Rutgers University ID card for purchases and other privileges and fraudulent use of the card will result in disciplinary action or penalties.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

DeVera, Gray and Simmons are no longer with the Rutgers football program. Gray and DeVera were dismissed from the team on July 11, then issued statements on Twitter that they were given scholarship releases and were free to transfer to other schools. DeVera is enrolled at ASA College, a junior-college football program based in Brooklyn.

Simmons also announced his intentions to transfer earlier this month. Lopez has left Rutgers and is enrolled at Garden City Community College in Kansas.

Dixon, Marfo, Onyechi and Jones are taking summer-school classes at Rutgers, and university officials won't make a call on whether to dismiss them until their court date, according to a school official.

Attempts to reach DeVera, Dixon, Jones, Lopez, Marfo, Onyechi and Simmons were unsuccessful. Gray declined to comment when pressed on allegations of credit-card fraud and referred all questions to his attorney, John Shiffman, who has not returned several messages.

All eight players were expected to play significant roles for the Scarlet Knights this fall. Each of the players contributed on defense.

Not long after dismissing Gray and DeVera, Rutgers coach Chris Ash suspended the other players from participating in training camp and said their status would be determined by the outcome of the probe.

The Scarlet Knights are set to begin their third season under Ash on Sept. 1 with a home game against Texas State.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

A look at the players charged:

Don't Edit

Gray, a Newark native who played at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, started four of the 10 games he played in as a sophomore last season. The 6-1, 205-pounder was expected to start at safety after leading the secondary with 58 tackles last fall.

Don't Edit

DeVera, a Monticello, N.Y., native who starred at Wayne Hills High School, played in 11 games as a true freshman last fall. In addition to serving as a backup linebacker after moving from fullback during training camp, the 6-1, 242-pounder played on several special teams units and finished the season with two tackles.

Don't Edit

Courtesy photo

Dixon, a 6-3, 215-pound junior-college transfer from Tampa, Fla., was expected to add depth at both linebacker and safety after enrolling prior to spring camp. He spent last season at Eastern Arizona Community College after playing his first two seasons at the University of South Florida.

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Jones, a 5-11, 195-pound defensive back out of Timber Creek High in Erial, was expected to compete for a sub-package role in the secondary and play on special teams after redshirting as a freshman.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

David Gard | For NJ Advance Media

Lopez, a 5-11, 175-pound defensive back from Camden, was expected to see backup duty in the secondary and play on special teams this fall.

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Marfo played sparingly during his first two seasons at Rutgers after transferring in from Reedley (Calif.) Community College, but the 5-10, 190-pound Alexandria, Va., native was expected to add depth in the secondary and play on special teams this season.

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Onyechi, a 6-foot, 231-pound defensive end from West Orange, was expected to add depth to the defensive line and play a variety of special teams roles after seeing action in all 12 games as a true freshman last fall.

Don't Edit

Courtesy photo

Simmons, a Jersey City native who spent part of his scholastic career at Hudson Catholic and at an Alabama high school, sat out as a redshirt last fall. But the 5-11, 214-pounder was expected to add depth to the linebacker corps while participating on special teams this season.

Don't Edit

Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Rutgers had eight players charged with various crimes during the 2015 season which resulted in the ouster of head coach Kyle Flood and Athletics Director Julie Hermann following a 4-8 campaign.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo by James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Since Ash arrived in late 2015, the Scarlet Knights have implemented several culture-changing initiatives, including the Life Beyond the Game program (which prepares players for post-football success in the business world) and Service Knights (a volunteer initiative that features players visiting children in area hospitals and schools and serving at soup kitchens, among other activities).

Don't Edit

Part of RU’s Life Beyond The Game program. Team will also visit Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial and Trinity Church. #Rutgers https://t.co/059jXZYkDQ — James Kratch (@JamesKratch) June 15, 2018

As part of the culture change, Ash has seemingly been proactive to discipline players who have had run-ins with the law.

NJ Advance Media previously reported Rutgers immediately suspended Dacoven Bailey from the program after Ash learned the wide receiver had been arrested in Texas on a sexual-assault charge, and then dismissed Bailey from the team three days later.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

8 RU programs recognized for APR by NCAA

Don't Edit

Are the Scarlet Knights' grades improving under Ash?

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.