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Rhode Island
California man arrested for stealing $300K from RI town
Crime
Prosecutors say Alec Tahir Baker allegedly stole nearly $9 million dollars from companies and individuals across the country, including the Town of Bristol.
A California man was indicted in federal court on Wednesday after he allegedly participated in multiple scams that defrauded people, establishments, and the town of Bristol, Rhode Island out of nearly $9 million dollars, prosecutors said.
The Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s office named Alec Tahir Baker, a resident of Corona, California, as a “key participant” in an email conspiracy and money laundering scam.
The indictment alleges Baker, 60, was involved in a scam where someone would send phishing emails to individuals, businesses, and Town of Bristol email addresses. If opened, prosecutors said, the email allowed the scammers to access the recipient’s computer information. Then Baker, along with unnamed co-conspirators, would allegedly direct victims’ banks to transfer money into an account owned by Baker or other conspirators, the indictment said.
According to the indictment, Baker, along with the co-conspirators, allegedly defrauded individuals and businesses of at least $8,854,243. In addition, the indictment alleges that around $7,649,876 in fraudulent proceeds were transmitted to bank accounts under Baker’s control.
Baker also allegedly targeted Bristol through the scam, allegedly stealing more than $300,000 dollars from the town.
First charged through a criminal complaint on Nov. 1, the Attorney’s office said Baker was arrested in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 5 and detained after his first appearance in U.S. District Court.
He faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, the indictment said. Federal prosecutors said he will be transported to Rhode Island to be arraigned on those charges at a “later date.”
Representation for Baker did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
California resident, along with alleged scam enterprise, allegedly defrauded Town of Bristol
The indictment alleges Baker and his co-conspirators used phishing emails to gain access to the Town of Bristol’s computer network in January of 2023.
“The next day, a member of the conspiracy caused $310,500 to be wired from one of the Town’s bank accounts into a business account controlled by Baker, who then withdrew or transferred funds from that account and deposited the money into other accounts he controlled,” the Attorney’s office said.
Of that $310,500, Baker allegedly withdrew $75,000 from the town’s Citibank account with the note “Q1 salary” on Jan. 20, 2023, the indictment said. Three days later, he allegedly withdrew $144,700 from the same Citibank account and deposited it into a Chase account, the indictment said. Next, on Jan. 31, the indictment said he withdrew $89,169.87 from the Citibank account and put it in a cashiers’ check payable to Al Hujen Group, a US Bank account operated by Baker.
The indictment said one of the involved scammers would allegedly pose as vendors and email employees of the targeted companies. The scammer would give the employee fraudulent bank information and direct the employee to make payments to that new account, which was controlled by Baker or co-conspirators, the indictment alleged.
According to the indictment, the targeted companies and individuals were located across the country.
The Town of Bristol did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Good morning! Happy Thursday! Today will be pretty unsettled with the chance for showers and t’storms. Friday will still be damp with showers and drizzle, but the weekend still looks amazing!
The one good thing with the rain, for allergy sufferers at least, the pollen levels will be lower. In fact, both today and tomorrow, the tree pollen counts will be low locally. Do expect a spike in the pollen count for Saturday and Sunday with the dry weather.
INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” POWER OUTAGES
TODAY
Hour-by-hour forecast for today…
Hour by Hour // A close look at the upcoming conditions »
We’ll have some showers around during the morning commute today, but the greatest chance for showers and t’storms will be after 9AM and before 5PM.
Showers and thunderstorms could slow travel around mid-day. Rain could fall heavily at times.
A line of showers and t’storms will be sweeping across the area through the afternoon as a slow-moving weather systems moves through the region.
Highs today will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s with southeast to east winds of 5-15mph.
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS
TONIGHT
Showers are still possible this evening; although they won’t be as numerous.
TOMORROW
That low center will be nearby Friday morning, and we’ll be stuck with a damp, cool windflow. Expect drizzle and showers in the morning and possibly some lingering showers in the afternoon.
Highs Friday will only be in the 50s. The average high this time of year is in the upper 60s.
LOOKING AHEAD
Then…there’s the weekend. Saturday looks amazing with lots of sunshine and dry weather. It’ll be warmer, too, with highs in the 70s.
-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo
T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.
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The Rhode Island Department of Health issued an overdose spike alert for Johnston and North Providence.
Health officials said over the past week, five Johnston and North Providence residents received medical care for a drug overdose.
According to RIDOH, these municipalities have historically lower overdose rates than the statewide average.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Residents can visit Prevent Overdose RI connect with community harm reduction organizations and find treatment.
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 12, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 12 drawing
17-32-35-40-47, Mega Ball: 17
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from May 12 drawing
Midday: 1-5-2-0
Evening: 1-6-0-3
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from May 12 drawing
23-27-29-31-35, Extra: 12
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 12 drawing
19-21-35-38-53, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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