Nineteen individuals have pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud charges in connection with a statewide scheme that allegedly defrauded financial institutions, individuals, and numerous businesses throughout Florida, including in Kissimmee.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that the following individuals have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud:
Qornelious Campbell, 33, of Winter Haven; Kenneth Cole II, 27, of Winter Haven; Kenisha Coffer, 27, of Minneola; D’Andranika Crews, 22, of Lakeland; Ebony Fields, 28, of Winter Haven; Victoria Ferrer, 24, of Lakeland; Aaliyah Gotay-Woods, 25, of Bartow; Bre’asia Harris, 28, of Winter Haven; Jaun Hillman, 53, of Winter Haven; Keith Honors, Jr., 41, of Lakeland; Kendrick Iles, 22, of Plant City; Arkuria Lewis, 24, of Lakeland; Deven Little, 30, of Lakeland; Josie Lopez, 31, of Haines City; Clarissa Morris, 26, of Lakeland; Tamiria Perry, 29, of Winter Haven; Tamaries Richardson, 32, of Bartow; Kalei Spicer, 24, of Live Oak; and Tyler Jacob, 26, of Winter Haven.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Jacob also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, witness tampering, and destruction of evidence.
Court records show that the widespread fraud was reportedly uncovered in 2023 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the “Trap Boys,” a violent street gang operating in the area, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The probe was initially prompted by several retaliatory shootings between the Trap Boys and other violent street gangs. During arrests related to those shootings, investigators reportedly discovered that several gang members were in possession of large quantities of checks, debit cards, financial statements, and identification cards belonging to third parties.
The recovered materials revealed that from at least July 2021 through November 2023, a group of individuals conspired to defraud victims across several Florida cities, including Kissimmee, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Riverview, Lakeland, Tampa, and Miami, according to court documents.
As part of this conspiracy, the 19 co-conspirators stole checks from individuals and businesses. Utilizing check-writing software, the suspects then altered those checks and created fictitious ones by changing the amounts, banks, and business names.
The co-conspirators also reportedly used automated systems and online databases to obtain the transaction histories, account balances, and check numbers of various businesses.
To further the scheme, the co-conspirators recruited accomplices who provided their personal bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, debit cards, and online banking login credentials and passwords. The co-conspirators then used these accounts to deposit the fraudulently created checks at dozens of financial institutions across the Middle District of Florida.
Over the course of the conspiracy, approximately 26 banks and more than 200 victims were defrauded. The targeted victims included public school districts, colleges, state agencies, law firms, insurance companies, construction businesses, tile companies, and auto shops.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
