POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An investigation by the FBI and Polk County Sheriff’s Office dismantled a gang’s massive check fraud ring that had more than 200 victims, according to law enforcement.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and other law enforcement officials on Tuesday announced 19 arrests and indictments as a result of the “large-scale conspiracy.”
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The investigation began in June 2022 when the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was tracking down three gang members, revealing a large check fraud operation. One of the suspects, Tyler Jacob, was found with “numerous fraudulent checks” in his possession during a traffic stop in June 2022, according to U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg.
Handberg said Jacob belonged to the gang, Trap Boys.
“They found checks that had been returned as altered. They found personal information in other people that was written in a notebook. They found 27 bank debit cards in other people’s names, and they found a computer and a cell phone. All of these are tools of a check fraud operation,” he said. “What they (Polk deputies) determined was that the checks that Jacob had in his possession belonged to businesses that had reported fraud on their checking accounts, and that those fraudulent checks have been deposited into the same accounts associated with nearly all of those 27 debit cards.”
Handberg also said the personal information written in the notebook belonged to deceased people, those living in assisted living facilities or people who were mentally disabled.
The U.S. attorney said the FBI and sheriff’s office teamed up to “dismantle the Trap Boys, to stop them from using check fraud to support themselves and hold accountable anyone who assisted them in these crimes.”
In January, deputies and FBI agents executed a search warrant at Jacob’s home and found “the tools of the trade” used in the operation.
“During the search, investigators found shredding on both floors of the residence, documents that have been shredded. They found a shredding machine that was full and that had so much in it that it was jammed at the top. Additionally, law enforcement found that there was something in the washing machine that had been started. What was found in there was a box of checks as Jacob literally was attempting to wash away some of the evidence against him,” the U.S. attorney said.
The sheriff’s office and FBI found the fraud ring happened over the course of over two years, from July 2021 to November 2023.
“Jacob and at least 19 conspirators worked together to defraud banks, credit unions and businesses throughout Central Florida, including ones located in Winter Haven, Auburndale, Riverview, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Tampa and Miami. So far, the sheriff’s office and the FBI have identified over 200 businesses, 26 banks and three credit unions that were the victims of this conspiracy,” Handberg said.
The following individuals were indicted:
- Qornelious Campbell (31)
- Kenneth Cole II (25)
- Kenisha Coffer (25)
- D’Andranika Crews (20)
- Ebony Fields (26)
- Victoria Ferrer (22)
- Aaliyah Gotay-Woods (23)
- Bre’asia Harris (26)
- Jaun Hillman (51)
- Keith Honors, Jr. (39)
- Kendrick Iles (20)
- Arkuria Lewis (22)
- Deven Little (28)
- Josie Lopez (29)
- Clarissa Morris (24)
- Tamiria Perry (27)
- Mark Quesnel (66)
- Tamaries Richardson (30)
- Kalei Spicer (22)
The Lakeland Police Department assisted in the investigation as well.
Watch the full news conference below.
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