The recent launch of a Charlotte area task force to tackle fraudsters has led to the takedown of several members of the FreeBandz Gang hip-hop collective.
Seven FreeBandz members were indicted on federal charges for running an elaborate bank and identity theft scheme that made them $1.2 million.
According to investigators, suspects would recruit people over social media and in person, who was willing to open up new accounts and allow them to deposit altered checks. They'd then make away with withdrawals of between $500 and $1,000. Members of the gang are also alleged to used stolen identities to obtain cars and cell phones.
Srt. Robert Sprague of the Mecklenburg Police Department said that in many cases the suspects were "using other neighbors, friends, family, relatives as their victims."
"When I deposited my check a couple of days later, my bank account had been closed due to fraudulent activity. All my hard-earned money that I actually worked for and saved for my daughter was gone," one victim is quoted as telling the local WSOC station about how she realized she had been duped in the operation.
The FreeBandz Gang suspects are reportedly facing sentences of up to 30 years for their involvement in the ring.
Source: wsbtv.com
