The Alleged Million-Dollar DoorDash Scammer Killed

Photo of David Smith, the man who allegedly scammed DoorDash drivers.

David Smith, the 22-year-old who had been accused of a million-dollar DoorDash scheme, was found shot to death in New York’s Heritage Homes days before he was scheduled to take a plea deal in the case.

What happened

In June 2023, David Smith was arrested in Stamford for what one investigator has called the biggest scam he’s seen. Smith lived a quiet but fruitful lifestyle, having found a way to hack his way into the earnings of California DoorDash delivery drivers. Smith, however, seemingly didn’t blow the money he’d taken. Instead, police found over $730,000 in cash stashed in five safes in Smith’s home.

This scam took place over the course of two and a half years, and over seven hundred drivers were robbed of their earnings.

Smith perfected this scheme by placing fake DoorDash orders using multiple cellphones. When the driver was on the way, Smith would call the driver and impersonate DoorDash support. He would tell the driver there was a problem with the order, and he would convince them to click a link or go to a website. From there, the driver’s DoorDash username and password would be taken and given to Smith. He would then log in, change the billing information and then steal any funds they had in their accounts from deliveries they had done.

This scam took place over the course of two and a half years, and over seven hundred drivers were robbed of their earnings. Police say Smith stole the identities of dozens of people to open debit card accounts. He used those accounts to transfer the stolen funds into.

At the time of his murder, Smith was considering a plea deal.

At the time of his murder, Smith was considering a plea deal. He would have taken or refused the offer Wednesday, January 08, 2025. However, prosecutors have not made the details of the plea deal public. As for the recovered cash, there will be a hearing in March to determine what happens to it. It could be redistributed to the victims in the case. During that time, the charges will be dismissed against Smith as well. However, the charges against his killers will be just be heating up.

David Smith is Murdered

Concerning Smith’s murder, four individuals were in custody after the New York murder. However, only two appeared in court over what police have described as a conflict over money. Ali Mohammed, 21, is accused of shooting and killing Smith on Monday on Rhoda Quash Lane at the Heritage Homes Complex. Mohammed later turned himself in. He is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Currently, he sits in Westchester County Jail without a bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 17.

The judge… issued a $20,000 cash bail or $50,000 bail bond for the release of [one of the defendants].

According to the Stamford Advocate, “Mohammed’s arrest was the fourth in the case. Earlier this week, Marquis Williamson, 21, of Newark, N.J., and Amiri Oneal, 21, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., were arrested on second-degree murder charges. A third suspect, 20-year-old Anthony Webster of Mount Vernon, N.Y., was arrested on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree robbery.”

A fifth suspect named Tommy Guest, 21, of Mount Vernon, is charged with first-degree robbery. It is alleged he went through Smith’s pockets and took a cellphone, keys and a credit card. Guest’s lawyer, Cynthia Lobo, asked for her client to be released without a bond, noting he is a college student. The judge, instead, issued a $20,000 cash bail or $50,000 bail bond for the release of Guest.

There is also video of the incident, according to police…

“They were all known parties to each other, but we don’t know how close they all were and if this was a major falling out, or if they were just acquaintances through whatever channels,” New Rochelle police spokesman Capt. J Collins Coyne said on Thursday. Police have said that they are not ruling out that the shooting could be connected to money related to Smith’s DoorDash scam.

Smith was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died. There is also video of the incident, according to police, but they did not elaborate and have not released the video. They were not clear if the murder was premeditated or came in the heat of the moment.

The Takeaway

After pulling off one of the most elaborate schemes to rob employees of their pay, David Smith faced charges that could have sent him away for decades. It is unclear what his plea deal would have been, but the sentence would probably have been short enough for him to return to useful citizenship. He lived a short, fast but hopefully exhilarating life. After coming to terms with what he’d done and preparing to face the consequences of his actions, Smith’s life was cut short.

In the fallout, five of Smith’s friends or associates were arrested for his murder and robbery. None of them were older than 21, and some could spend the rest of their lives in jail. It is unclear if the dispute over money was tied to the DoorDash funds. It is clear that Smith let the wrong people get too close to him. He may be deceased, but his story will be told on corners, in newspapers for years to come and, likely, on the big screen one day.

This article was written by Jermaine Reed, MFA, the Editor-in-Chief of The Reeders Block, who also works an Adjunct College Professor. Join the email list to get notifications on new articles and books. This article is 100% human-written. And remember, if you see an error, that’s what makes us human. Subscribe and share.