A Florida man was indicted today on multiple counts of conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting United States Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch.
Joining Lemisch in the announcement was David P. Gelios, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Kyle Cameron, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was charged in a 17-count indictment for his role in a bank fraud scheme executed in Michigan in 2015. Cameron is scheduled to be arraigned on December 19, 2017, 1 p.m., in Detroit. Cameron has been in federal custody since his arrest on these charges.
According to the indictment, Cameron participated with others in a bank fraud conspiracy that involved travelling to Michigan to break into homes and cars with the intent to obtain identification documents, financial transaction devices, and personal checks. Subsequent to stealing these items, Cameron and others would, using the drive-thru lane farthest from the teller window, present these records at banks, posing as the victim of the theft in order to fraudulently obtain cash from the bank.
At present, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has charged more than ten people with similar charges due to fraudulent activities in 2015 and 2016, including defendants Ja’Marri Barnes, Marlon Fencher, Kristine Carter, Justin Curry, Rhashod Brown, Cedrick Jones, Wendy Kroner, Lindsey Blackwood, Tedgrick Montgomery, and Dennis Jones. According to information provided at a December 13, 2017, detention hearing for defendant Dennis Jones, the banking industry has referred to the defendants who use this bank fraud scheme as the “Felony Lane Gang” due to their repeated usage, in order to avoid detection, of the drive-thru lane farthest from the teller window. The detention hearing also revealed that the defendants are known to target the personal identification documents and bank records of women. When pursued, the defendants routinely recklessly flee, both by car and on foot.
“Given the random nature of this crime, and especially during the holiday season, our community needs to be careful to lock doors and to not let purses and bags be viewable through a car window,” Lemisch said. “We applaud the dedication of our federal law enforcement partners in the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their aggressive investigation of this unsettling crime.”
“The brazen criminal scheme described in today’s indictment should serve as a reminder to everyone that identity theft and other financial related crimes are not just committed by high-tech cyber thieves hiding behind the relative anonymity of their computer screens,” said David P. Gelios, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Division of the FBI. “As evidenced by the home burglaries which could have resulted in harm to homeowners, the public must remain vigilant in protecting your homes and personal information from would-be-criminals. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to identify theft, contact your local law enforcement agency or visit www.identitytheft.gov.”
Bank fraud is punishable with a maximum penalty under federal law of 30 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine; aggravated identity theft requires a mandatory penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment.
An indictment is only a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation, which began in 2015, was led by the FBI’s Detroit Identity Theft and Financial Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of federal and local agencies, including an officer from the Auburn Hills Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick E. Corbett and Craig A. Weier.
