FDLE: Florida Crime Ring Nets Over $500k In Gift Cards

ORLANDO, Florida -- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Orlando Regional Operations Center charged seventeen individuals linked to a two-year-long investigation of  statewide organized fraud.  The case is being prosecuted in partnership with the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

The investigation began in late 2010 in partnership with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and involved an organized group of individuals who allegedly used counterfeit checks to purchase merchandise from large retail stores throughout Florida.   Officials say the counterfeit checks used by the group typically displayed fraudulent information and/or stolen account numbers. 

Agents allege that the defendants would use the counterfeit checks in conjunction with counterfeit driver’s licenses and identification cards to purchase store merchandise.  Once the merchandise was purchased, it would be kept for a short period of time, only to be returned later for cash or gift cards. 

In some incidents, members of the group would allegedly use the counterfeit checks to directly purchase store gift cards which would then be used to purchase Visa or American Express gift cards at a sister store. Once the Visa or American Express cards were purchased, they could be used almost anywhere.

FDLE says that the group is believed to have profited in excess of $500,000.00 over a three year period.

The following individuals have been charged with organized scheme to defraud, conspiracy to commit organized scheme to defraud, criminal use of personal identification information, conspiracy to commit criminal use of personal identification information, and criminal use of fictitious or personal identification information:

D’Angelo Keith Jones, 28, of Orlando

James Edward Cook Jr., 33, of Orlando

Timothy Duval, 23, of Orlando

Christopher Michael Jones, 34, of Orlando

Claudine Antoinette Smith-Jones, 33, of Orlando

Brandon Sanchez Brinson, 24, of Pompano Beach

Roger Sermon Jr., 31, of Altamonte Springs

Gregory Wayne Lowe Jr., 26, of Sanford

Henry Evett Allen, 37, of Orlando

Courtney Boston Scott, 23, of Orlando

Ralph Williams III, 34, of Bradenton

Annette Luvern Siplin, 50, of Sanford

Paul Boyd Jr., 50, of Altamonte Springs

Montrez D. Maye, 33, of Orlando

Edger M. Jenning-Boswell, 30, Ocala

Cenenia Bryant, 30, of Orlando

Chelsy L. Beals, 22, of Edmond Oklahoma

Each defendant is to be held under a $45,000.00 total bond.