Penn College student charged with kidnapping, robbery

Williamsport, Pa. — A 19-year-old Pennsylvania man allegedly coerced a classmate to deposit a bogus stimulus check into a bank account and then threatened him to withdraw the money.

Kahsan Tahir Youk of Spring City posted a chance for people to make money on his Snapchat account, according to a complaint. The victim—a classmate of Youk’s at Penn College—reached out and set up a meeting up with Youk.

Youk asked his classmate to give him his bank account information to deposit a fraudulent check and then withdraw the money to split, Penn College Police Officer Stephanie Neeper said. Realizing the offer was a scam, the classmate offered Youk a deactivated debit card and then attempted to ignore Youk, Neeper added.

Three days after the encounter, Youk allegedly told the victim he would have his “friends from Philly and New Jersey roll up on him” if he didn’t give his bank account information. Fearing Youk and his threats, the victim provided him with the bank account information.

On Sept. 16 a deposit worth $5,643 was made from a cell phone into the victim's account, allegedly without the victim’s knowledge. The cell phone did not belong to the victim, according to the affidavit.

The next day Youk a security camera records Youk going into the accuser’s dorm room just before 7 a.m. without consent, Neeper said. Youk—allegedly pretending to conceal a firearm—demanded a pin number for the bank account, according to Neeper. The victim called M&T bank to change the pin, but couldn’t, Neeper added. Youk forced him to drive to the bank for a new card, Neeper wrote in the affidavit. That was also denied by the bank. Youk was dropped off at the campus of Penn College after the unsuccessful attempt, Neeper said.

Youk allegedly confronted the victim later in the evening while on campus. Youk told him “you better not tell anyone” while in a lab, Neeper wrote in the affidavit. As the victim left, Youk allegedly told him “I’m going to talk to you later.”

M&T Bank confirmed the check was fraudulent, Neeper said. A log showing somebody other than the accuser accessed the account. The log showed one attempt from Maple Shade Township, NJ, and another from Penn College.

Youk is being charged with robbery, kidnapping, forgery, burglary, criminal trespassing, criminal use of a communication facility, terroristic threats, threaten to commit a crime, and harassment. He is being held at the Lycoming County Prison on $50,000 monetary bail. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing with Judge Christian Frey next month.

Docket sheet