$7.7 Million Real Estate Scam: Wyckoff Man and Florida Accomplice Arrested in Massive Bergen County Wire Fraud Bust
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Wyckoff , NJ — A high-stakes cyber fraud investigation has culminated in the arrest of a Wyckoff resident and a Florida man accused of laundering millions from a local real estate transaction.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 49-year-old Jason S. McNeill of Wyckoff, NJ, and 43-year-old Ryan A. Telesford of Lake Worth, FL. Both men face severe first- and second-degree financial crime charges following a multi-agency, cross-country investigation into a massive business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
The Anatomy of a $7.7 Million Cyber Heist
The investigation began in December 2025 when the Hackensack Police Department alerted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit to a sophisticated cyberattack targeting a high-value real estate transaction.
According to detectives, a network of scammers used encrypted electronic communications and fraudulent banking instructions to intercept and divert exactly $7,756,157 intended for a Bergen County business.
Once the funds were stolen, the network utilized a complex web of financial accounts to move and hide the cash. Authorities allege that McNeill and Telesford directly facilitated the movement and concealment of the stolen millions, funneling large portions of the illicit proceeds into accounts under their personal control.
Cross-Country Raids and Arrests
Following months of tracking the digital and financial paper trail, law enforcement moved in on both suspects in late May 2026:
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Ryan A. Telesford (Lake Worth, FL): Arrested at his residence on May 27, 2026, by Bergen County detectives with the assistance of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Unit and the U.S. Marshals Task Force. He was remanded to the Palm Beach County Jail awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
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Jason S. McNeill (Wyckoff, NJ): Arrested on May 28, 2026, after members of the Financial Crimes Unit, Hackensack Police, and Wyckoff Police executed a court-authorized search warrant at his Wyckoff home. McNeill was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.
Serious Criminal Charges Filed
Both McNeill and Telesford have been hit with identical, heavy-hitting criminal charges:
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First-Degree Money Laundering (Two separate counts)
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Second-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception
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Second-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
Prosecutor Musella emphasized that these charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The massive operation required extensive collaboration. Prosecutor Musella expressed his gratitude to the Hackensack and Wyckoff Police Departments, as well as Florida partners including the City of Miami Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Task Force for their vital assistance in tracking down the suspects.
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Tags: Wyckoff NJ , Hackensack NJ , Bergen County Prosecutor's Office , business email compromise , money laundering arrest New Jersey , real estate wire fraud , Bergen County financial crimes
