DETROIT – A Florida man was indicted Thursday on multiple counts of conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The announcement was made by acting U.S. Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch, who was joined by David P. Gelios, special agent in charge in the FBI's Detroit Division.
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Kyle Cameron, a Florida resident, was named in a 17-count indictment, charging him with having a role in a Michigan bank fraud scheme executed in 2015. Cameron is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Detroit. He currently is in federal custody.
According to authorities, Cameron participated with others in a bank fraud conspiracy that involved traveling to Michigan to break into homes and cars with the intent of obtaining identification documents, financial transaction devices and personal checks. Cameron and others would then go to a bank's drive-through lane farthest from the teller window and present these records, posing as the victim of the theft in order to fraudulently obtain cash, authorities said.
“Given the random nature of this crime, and especially during the holiday season, our community needs to be careful to lock doors and to not let purses and bags be viewable through a car window,” Lemisch said. “We applaud the dedication of our federal law enforcement partners in the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their aggressive investigation of this unsettling crime.”
The investigation, which began in 2015, was led by the FBI’s Detroit Identity Theft and Financial Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of federal and local agencies, including an officer from the Auburn Hills Police Department.
“The brazen criminal scheme described in today’s indictment should serve as a reminder to everyone that identity theft and other financial related crimes are not just committed by high-tech cyber thieves hiding behind the relative anonymity of their computer screens,” Gelios said. “As evidenced by the home burglaries which could have resulted in harm to homeowners, the public must remain vigilant in protecting your homes and personal information from would-be-criminals. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to identify theft, contact your local law enforcement agency or visit www.identitytheft.gov.”
Bank fraud is punishable with a maximum penalty under federal law of 30 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine; aggravated identity theft requires a mandatory penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment.