iradiophilly | News - Social Media Star Charged in $1.5 M Scheme; 2nd Grader Dies of Flu; Bensalem Hotel Aerosol Explosion

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Social Media Star Charged in $1.5 M Scheme; 2nd Grader Dies of Flu; Bensalem Hotel Aerosol Explosion

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 02/18/20 12:16 am | updated: 02/18/20 12:16 am

A 22-year-old South Jersey social media influencer has been accused of being the ring leader of a $1.5 million fraud scheme. Kayla Massa of Gloucester City has 338k Instagram followers and 107k Youtube subscribers. Federal prosecutors have charged Massa, her 19-year-old sister Leire Massa, and 8 others with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. They appeared in Camden federal court last Thursday and Friday, 2/13-14. Massa would post messages to her Instagram or Snapchat stories asking followers who lived in South Jersey and had a bank account and who were looking to make money to direct message her. Messages posted on 'stories' disappear after 24 hours. She was able to convince people to give them their bank account information and even their PIN with the promise of splitting a big payday. Once they had control of a person's bank account they would deposit a fraudulent money order or check from a local business into the account. They'd then withdraw that money and block the original person from sending them any more messages. Massa and the rest would spend the money on expensive purchases and even flaunt the wealth on their social media. The other eight defendants are 22-year-old William Logan, 22-year-old Jordan Herrin, 19-year-old Erasmo Feliciano, 18-year-old Kevin McDaniels, 20-year-old Jabreel Martin, 20-year-old Dezhon McCray, 21-year-old Andrew Johnson , and 27-year-old Alex Haines.

A second grade student in a Delaware County school died over the weekend from complications from the flu. Marple Newtown School District says that 7-year-old Matthew Wzorek died on Sunday night, 2/16. He was a student at Worrell Elementary School in Broomall. In a letter to parents, school officials said, "Matthew was known to have a happy smile and kind heart in class. He loved being with his friends and was always willing to offer assistances to his teachers and peers. To say he will be missed is an enormous understatement." There will be counselors available at the school on Tuesday. The Department of Health says that as of February 8, there have been 47 deaths and 1632 hospitalizations associated with the flu in Pennsylvania so far this season. Matthew is the first child to die in Pennsylvania, 92 have died nationwide according to the CDC.

Two people were injured after an explosion at a hotel in Bensalem on Sunday afternoon, 2/16 . It happened around 6 p.m. at the Extended Stay of America on Tillman Drive. Officials determined that the explosion was caused by a woman using an aerosol can near a burning candle in the bathroom. The Bensalem Fire Department says two people staying in the room suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. The hotel has since reopened. Two rooms on the second floor remain closed.

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