Six people are behind bars following a multiyear investigation that ended what officials are calling a fraud and theft ring in South Florida.
Attorney General James Uthmeier said his Statewide Prosecution team broke up a multiyear operation that engaged in large-scale theft and identity fraud based in Fort Lauderdale.
Uthmeier dubbed the operation the “Felony Lane Gang” that he said committed more than 200 smash-and-grab burglaries at public spaces, parks and gyms in five counties. A news release said the crimes occurred between March 2021 and May 2023.
Once the smash-and-grabs were completed, investigators say the ring would then pilfer the stolen wallets and purses for checkbooks, credit cards, ID cards and passports to steal more money from bank accounts by using the identities of the victims.
“The broader issue at hand here is that repeat offenders pose a major threat to the safety of our communities,” Uthmeier said. “Too often, these criminals are arrested, released, and given another chance to prey on innocent people. In Florida, we don’t just arrest criminals — we keep them behind bars where they belong.”
An estimated $350,000 was stolen from the victims in those two years, and some 55 of those victims were senior citizens.
“The Office of Statewide Prosecution will deploy every tool to dismantle criminal networks made up of career fraudsters and thieves that prey on hardworking Floridians,” said Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay. “The Office will pursue hefty and enhanced charges to ensure individuals convicted of operating as part of one of these organized crime rings are kept behind bars for a very long time, where they can no longer victimize Floridians.”
Charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and scheme to defraud face the suspects in the case. Uthmeier said the maximum punishment for each suspect could be 30 years in prison along with fines of up to $10,000 each.
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