In January, Brian Krebs, the cybercrime expert behind KrebsOnSecurity, exposed rapper Punchmade Dev, who glorifies cybercrime in his music videos, as a key figure behind online stores selling stolen bank account and payment card data. Now, the 22-year-old Kentucky native, identified as Devon Turner, is suing Kentucky-based PNC Bank after it blocked a $75,000 wire transfer and froze his account amidst an active law enforcement investigation.
Background and Allegations
Devon Turner, a/k/a Punchmade Dev, gained notoriety for songs like “Internet Swiping” and “Million Dollar Criminal,” which have earned millions of views. His online presence promoted tutorials on committing financial crimes and advertised Punchmade-themed stores selling illicit financial data.
KrebsOnSecurity traced Turner’s activities, linking him to various online shops that offered access to compromised CashApp and PayPal accounts, check printing software, and personal financial data. Despite Turner’s denial of involvement in the lawsuit via his social media, he has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
The Lawsuit
On June 26, Turner filed a lawsuit against PNC Bank, alleging “unlawful discriminatory and tortuous action” after being denied a $75,000 wire transfer. Turner claims that a follow-up call revealed his account had been closed due to “suspicious activity,” and he was no longer welcome at PNC Bank.
Turner’s complaint highlights his success as a business owner. He claims to have generated millions of dollars and employed over 30 people. Among his ventures are OBN Group LLC, also known as Punchmade LLC, and a record label called DevTakeFlightBeats Inc.
Turner alleges that PNC Bank staff made disparaging remarks about his financial status, suggesting it was unusual for someone like him to have substantial funds. Turner acknowledges that PNC flagged his account for law enforcement attention, which he dismisses as a mistake.
Legal and Financial Consequences
Turner’s lawsuit details his attempt to withdraw $500,000 from his PNC account, which the bank denied, claiming the funds were seized indefinitely.
Turner’s Instagram account has more than 860k followers, and his Telegram channel has more than 75,000 subscribers, all “no doubt seeking that sweet “C@sh App sauce,” which apparently has something to do with moving cryptocurrencies through Cash App in a way that financially rewards people able and willing to open up new accounts,” KrebsOnSecurity notes. Punchmade Dev persona, with a large social media following, continues to promote his schemes.
Krebs finds it “incredibly ironic” that Punchmade can’t even register a domain name anonymously.
Conclusion
Brian Krebs’ investigation has shed light on Turner’s cybercriminal activities, raising questions about his public persona versus real-life actions. Despite his claims of legitimacy, the evidence points to significant involvement in financial crimes, making his lawsuit against PNC Bank a complex and ironic twist in his ongoing saga.
For more detailed coverage and investigative insights, credit goes to KrebsOnSecurity.
